2022 World Cup Will Be the Most Expensive One in History
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, the second such event to be held in Asia after the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. 32 teams from five different continents will compete. Research conducted by Polish financial services firm Conotoxia has shown that the Qatar World Cup will be the most expensive football event ever for fans. Apart from the cost of tickets, fans from abroad will have to bear expensive accommodation and flight costs.
According to a study conducted by Hull Financial Planning, if fans do their own budget planning, they can expect to spend at least $7,000 (Inflation factor is included) per person for this football trip. Qatar Airways is offering a luxurious package for fans to watch the match, which includes travel, accommodation, and match tickets. The cheapest 10-day trips for two people during the world cups start at $3,500 per person, but the prices are expected to rise to over $7,000.
Group stage tickets cost between $70 and $220, while knockout tickets cost between $600 and $1,600. The ticket prices for the final match at Lusail Stadium on December 18 are up 46% from the 2018 final in Russia. With the exception of knockout tickets, most tickets have been sold out. However, FIFA is setting up an official resale platform for those who are unable to attend the matches, increasing the utilization of the tickets.
According to Avinash Adnani, the managing director of Pluto Travels, it may be more cost-effective to stay in Dubai and fly to Doha to watch the Qatar FIFA World Cup instead of booking a hotel in Doha to watch the match. The price of a high-end hotel room in Qatar can cost between $1,360 and $1,635 per night, along with an average of $500 for a match ticket. According to Adnani, a one−day event at a hotel in Qatar will cost between $1,900 and $2,200. In contrast, hotels in Dubai range from 82 to $355 per night, including more than $800 for a round-trip Dubai-Doha ticket and $500 for match tickets, for a total cost of up to $1,670, representing savings of at least 12% compared to staying in Doha directly to watch the match.
Previous World Cups have been a festive celebration for sports fans, and the love for the World Cup cannot be dampened by the current inflationary situation. Many tickets and flights have already sold out. It is expected that as the World Cup approaches, the cost of air tickets, hotel accommodation, and meals will continue to rise.
References
1. Hull Financial Planning, "How Much Would You Have to Budget to Go to the World Cup in 2022?".
2. Barnaby Lane, "The Qatar World Cup will be the most expensive ever for fans, with a trip costing as much as $20,000 per person".
3. Charlie Walker, "The Most Expensive World Cup Ever...' Fifa Is 'hammering' Supporters By Hiking The Ticket Prices At The Final And Opening Game, While Reducing The Number Of Cheap Tickets At Other Matches, Insist Fan Groups".
