What to know
- A new study suggests out-of-town Canadian fans could spend an average of $5,043 per Team Canada World Cup match, the highest estimated cost among host countries.
- The estimate includes ticket prices, travel, accommodation, food and other expenses, with hotels averaging about $646 per night and entry-level tickets around $600.
- Canada ranked as the most expensive country to follow per game, ahead of Australia, Egypt and Iraq, while Mexico was found to be the cheapest.
- One Ontario fan attending Canada’s opening match in Toronto expects to spend roughly $2,500 for the experience, including tickets, transportation, food and merchandise.
- Despite criticizing high ticket prices and alleged price gouging, the fan said attending Canada’s World Cup debut on home soil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and worth the expense.
A study is suggesting that Canadian fans coming from out of town to Toronto and Vancouver will be facing “highest cost per game” to watch their national team play in the World Cup, despite living in a host country.
The study by Casino.org shared with Now Toronto suggests that Canadian fans not based in one of the two host cities could be facing an average cost of $5,043 CAD ($3,644.65 USD) to watch each Team Canada match in the World Cup. Those looking to watch all Canadian games could be facing a bill of about $20,172 CAD according to the study.
The study takes into consideration match prices, travel, accommodation costs, everyday necessities, as well as an estimation of how far in the tournament teams are projected to go, with the cheapest tickets estimated to cost around $600 and hotel stays about $646 per night.
Canada faces highest cost among host countries
Despite being a World Cup host, Canada is at the top of the list with the most expensive countries to follow per game, according to the study.
Countries that follow Canada as some of the most expensive include Australia with an estimated cost of $4,752.03 CAD ($3,412 USD) per game, Egypt at $4,484.62 CAD ($3,220 USD), and Iraq at $4,442.52 CAD ($3,190 USD).
Meanwhile, costs for the fans of the other two host countries are estimated to be considerably lower according to the study.
U.S. fans are estimated to face a cost of $4,067 CAD ($2,919.00 USD) per game, which is on average 20 per cent cheaper than watching a Canadian match.
In comparison, Mexico team supporters will face the cheapest fees of all 48 participating teams, with a cost per game of only $1,858.74 CAD ($1,334.48 USD).
‘I have no regrets,’ Fan shares about attending the event
Michael McClymont, a Senior News Editor in the Sports Betting Space, is one of the thousands of soccer fans to attend the first Canada game against Bosnia-Herzegovina this Friday at Toronto Stadium.
In an interview with Casino.org shared with Now Toronto, McClymont said he spent just under $900 for two tickets to attend the game with his wife, who is a big soccer fan and had a dream to attend a World Cup match.
The couple first tried getting the tickets through the regular draw process but was not successful, having to wait for ticket prices to come down in the resale market. Eventually, they were able to secure them.
“I considered paying around that much to go to a Blue Jays World Series game so it’s worth it to make my wife’s dream come true,” McClymont said.
Since the couple lives about an hour away from Toronto, McClymont said he expects the trip itself to also add to the price, anticipating the whole experience to cost them about $2,500, including tickets, transportation, food, and merch, despite not having to pay for overnight accommodation.
Despite the steep bill, McClymont said he believes it’s worth paying the price for what he believes will be a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
“They’re really taking advantage of fans, the price gouging is truly unfortunate. So many people have been waiting their entire lives for this opportunity. So it’s truly a shame how out of hand the prices got, especially initially,” he said.
“That being said, I have no regrets. We’re beyond excited to be at Canada’s first World Cup match in Toronto.”
