Qatar 2022 ticket prices take a quantum leap



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Ticket applications open for Qatar 2022 Image: Qatar 2022

The cost of attending the World Cup final is up to 46 percent higher in Qatar than the previous tournament in Russia, fans discovered on January 19th as tickets went on sale.

The ‘Miami Herald’ stated that the steep rise in the prices for the FIFA showpiece match since 2018 contrasts with the group stage – apart from the opening game – and round of 16 seeing a reduction in the cost of the cheapest tickets, which fans can apply for online.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup™ is scheduled to be the 22nd running of the FIFA World Cup™ competition, the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by the national teams of the member- associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 21st to December 18th, 2022. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, and it will be the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament was held in South Korea and Japan.

The ‘Miami Herald’ further stated that the most expensive tickets on general sale for the December 18th final at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium in Qatar are 5,850 Qatari riyals ($1,607), up 46 percent from the $1,100 for the 2018 final won by France.

Category-Two tickets are 3,650 Qatari riyals ($1,003), up 41 percent from $710 for the final four years ago. Category-Three tickets – the cheapest available for international fans – are 2,200 Qatari riyals ($604), one-third more expensive than the $455 last time. The Category-Four final tickets for local residents soar from the equivalent of $110 in Russia to 750 Qatari riyals ($206).

The cheapest seats on general sale internationally to watch the host nation open the World Cup on November 21st soar 37 percent to $302 (1,100 Qatari riyals) from $220 in Russia. There’s a rise of 13 percent for Category-Two tickets to $440 (1,600 Qatari riyals) from $390 and a similar jump from $550 in Russia to $618 (2,250 Qatari riyals) for the most expensive opening-game tickets.

For other matches in the group stage, Qatari residents can buy tickets for 40 Qatari riyals ($11) – the cheapest for locals since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The cheapest tickets on international sale are the lowest prices since the 2006 World Cup in Germany at 250 Qatari riyals ($69). Category-One tickets have risen marginally from $210 to $220 (800 Qatari riyals) while the Category Two will remain at $165.

The cheapest tickets in the round of 16 have dropped from $115 to $96, but they are rising in the other two categories from $185 to $206 and $245 to $275.

Supporters requesting to attend matches at the Middle East’s first World Cup will only discover if they are successful based on a random draw at the conclusion of the first application phase which runs through February 8th.

The ticket process is beginning with only 13 of the 32 slots at the tournament filled and qualifying not concluding until the intercontinental playoffs in June. Applications in the first phase of ticket sales can be made on the FIFA website until February 8th with fans notified if they have been successful in the random draw selection by March 8th.

The draw for the tournament is scheduled for April 1st in Doha, the capital of the tiny oil-and-gas rich Persian Gulf nation.

As well as applying for tickets for individual games, fans can register to follow their team throughout and to watch four matches in four different stadiums.

FIFA aims to generate $500 million from hospitality rights and ticket sales from across the eight stadiums in Qatar which are within a 30-mile radius of Doha.

The launch of ticket sales will be the first gauge of interest in attending arguably the most controversial tournament since the World Cup was first staged in 1930.

Some fans could still be deterred from flying to the World Cup after a decade of criticism of Qatar’s treatment of the migrant workers, who are largely from Southwest Asia and have been relied on to build up the infrastructure since winning the FIFA hosting rights in 2010.

Even if fans want to go, there is a shortage of accommodation with no hotels available to book yet having all been reserved by the organizers.
 

Price comparison

The range of ticket prices in US dollars for international fans, converted from Qatari riyals, compared to the cost in Russia in 2018:

  • Opening match: $618 ($550), $440 ($390), $302 ($220);
  • Other group-stage games: $220 ($210), $165 ($165), $69 ($105);
  • Last 16: $275 ($245), $206 ($185), $96 ($115);
  • Quarterfinals: $426 ($365), $288 ($255), $206 ($175);
  • Semifinals: $956 ($750), $659 ($480), $357 ($285);
  • Third place: $426 ($365), $302 ($255), $206 ($175); and
  • Final: $1,607 ($1,100), $1,003 ($710), $604 ($455).

 

Application phase launched

Earlier, the opening FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ ticket application phase was launched on January 19th, 2022, with ticket products and packages set to attract fans from the region and across the globe to a special celebration of the beautiful game.

‘Qatar 2022’ stated that with a range of enticing options available in this opening phase, fans worldwide have a chance to secure their seats so they do not miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Said Nasser Al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ LLC, “The first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world will be an extraordinary event and together with our partners, rights holders and other stakeholders, Qatar cannot wait to bring fans together to celebrate their shared passion for football, experience a new culture and enjoy everything that our country and region have to offer.”

Stated FIFA’s Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, “This is a FIFA World Cup™ for Qatar, the region and the world, and the products launched today (January 19th) reflect FIFA’s goal of bringing the beautiful game to as many fans globally as possible. It will be a festival of football that will see fans experience the rich culture and history of the region through the platform of football at top-class stadiums and we look forward to bringing people from different cultures together to live football at the FIFA World Cup™.”

‘Qatar 2022’ further stated that during this first sales period, which started on January 19th at 13:00 Doha time and finishes on February 8th, 2022 at 13:00 Doha time, fans will be able to submit their ticket applications. In this initial promotion, it will make no difference whether applications are submitted on the first day, the last day or any time in between, as all tickets will be allocated following the closing of the ticket application period. In cases where the number of tickets applied for exceeds the available ticket inventory for the domestic or international market, tickets will be allocated by a random selection draw process. All successful, partially successful and unsuccessful applicants will be duly notified of the outcome of their applications by March 8th, 2022, along with the steps to follow and the deadline by which to pay for allocated tickets.

Visa cards are the exclusive payment method accepted for residents of Qatar, while Visa and other payment cards are accepted for international fans. Visa is the preferred payment solution of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

In this opening random selection draw sales period, fans can apply for the following ticket products:

  • Individual Match Ticket(s)

Tickets for a specific match, which are available for all matches from the opening game through to the final.

  • Team-Specific Ticket Series

For those who want to watch a certain team on every step of their journey in Qatar, starting with the three group matches.

  • Four-Stadium Ticket Series

FIFA’s new ticketing product provides fans with a unique opportunity to sample the atmosphere across four different matches and iconic stadiums on subsequent days, thanks to the short distances between stadiums in Qatar.

  • Accessibility Tickets

Providing tailored facilities and spaces for disabled people and people with limited mobility covering a range of requirements as part of any of the products above.

Prior to the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup™ on April 1st, 2022, it is foreseen that fans will have a second opportunity to secure tickets during a first-come, first-served sales phase, the precise details of which will follow in due course.

Further sales phases will take place after the Final Draw and will feature additional products, including:

  • Supporter Tickets

For fans who want to sit among their team’s fellow supporters.

  • Conditional supporter tickets

For supporters who want to reserve a seat for one of their team’s potential encounters in the knockout rounds, including the final.

Given the short distances between stadiums, Qatar 2022 will offer fans a unique opportunity of attending more than one match per day during the early stages of the tournament. Ticket applicants will be able to register for more than one match per day during the ticket sales phase that will follow the Final Draw. Given the need to allow sufficient travel time between stadiums, fans will not be able to attend back-to-back matches.

To allow attendees to take full advantage of the compact nature of Qatar 2022, FIFA has softened the household limits from previous FIFA World Cups™ – now, each household can buy up to six tickets per match and up to 60 tickets throughout the tournament to enjoy the matches with their friends and family.
 

Hay’ya Card (Fan ID)

A Hay’ya Card is needed to enter the State of Qatar, to access stadiums (along with a match ticket) and to enjoy free matchday travel alongside other benefits.
 

COVID-19 measures

FIFA and the State of Qatar are committed to putting health first. The State of Qatar will provide the required safeguards to protect the health and safety of all involved in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. All attendees must follow the travel advice from the Qatari authorities and the latest guidance from Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health. Full information on COVID-19 safety measures will be communicated in advance of the tournament.

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