The cost of attending the World Cup final is up to 46 per cent higher in Qatar than the previous tournament in Russia, fans discovered on Wednesday as tickets went on sale. The steep rise in the prices for the Fifa showpiece match contrasts with the group stage seeing a reduction in the cost of some tickets, which fans can apply for online.
The most expensive tickets on general sale for the December 18 final at Lusail Stadium are 5,850 Qatari riyals ($1,607), up 46 per cent from the $1,100 for the 2018 final won by France.
Category-two tickets are 3,650 Qatari riyals ($1,003), up 41 per cent 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 cheapest seats on general sale internationally to watch the host nation open the World Cup on November 21 soar 37 per cent to $302 (1,100 Qatari riyals) from $220 in Russia. For 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.
