Monday, October 12, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Hefty World Cup Prices Turning Soccer Fans Away

  • English and Welsh fans would reportedly have to pay at least $5,630 including tickets, flights, and accommodations.
  • Some fans are reluctant to travel due to expenses.
Qatar-World-Cup
FIFA

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

The Football Supporters’ Association has called the 2022 World Cup in Qatar “the most expensive World Cup ever.”

English and Welsh fans would reportedly have to pay at least $5,630 including tickets, flights, and accommodations if the teams make it to the final — and those include the cheapest accommodations with the cheapest tickets.

Nearly 2.9 million tickets have already been sold, but some fans told The Times that despite securing tickets, they are reluctant to attend due to travel expenses and the lack of things to do when matches aren’t taking place.

Qatar’s cruise ships are similarly expensive. The country added a third ship to beef up accommodations two weeks ago — the country only reported 31,123 hotel rooms available earlier this year despite expecting 1.2 million visitors.

  • Prices for the ship start at $470 per person per night during the group stage and fall to $220 during the final week.
  • Ship-goers will have to stay at least two nights.

Some fans will have to pay to stay in adjacent countries. Qatar Airways and flydubai will reportedly operate around 54 flights per day between Qatar and Dubai, which has 115,000 hotel rooms.

FIFA has also developed an area for approximately 1,000 tents on the outskirts of Doha in the Qatari desert, with some advertised at a little more than $200 per night. 

Country’s Coins

Qatar’s new stadiums have been reported to cost in the range of $6.5 billion–$10 billion, while a metro system that serves five of eight venues cost another $36 billion.

Altogether, the event is expected to cost $220 billion, with Qatar only anticipating $17 billion in economic impact from the tournament.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

USWNT Gets a Measuring Stick Ahead of the World Cup

The USWNT is still finding its footing after falling to No. 1 Spain.

Scandals Continue to Dog Gianni Infantino Months After World Cup

FIFA allowed a player to compete despite being ineligible, reports show.

World Cup Ticket Sellers Still Waiting for FIFA Refunds

FIFA said it would refund sellers within 60 days.
Kylian Mbappe On

Mbappé Leaves Nike for On As Brand Launches Soccer Division

Thierry Henry joins as the company’s new director of football.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/9/26 – MLB’s 154-Game Pitch, NFL Bets on SCOTUS, Shaq Says Barkley Isn’t Leaving

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Noah Lyles (USA) wins the men’s 100m final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.
September 22, 2025

Summer Olympics Face a Climate-Induced Heat Check

The World Athletics president says the status quo is not sustainable.
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; British and United States flags on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
September 29, 2025

From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip

The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in the U.K.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
January 13, 2025

Newsom Adamant About L.A. Hosting 2028 Olympics

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.