Harp Patel’s family consists of enthusiastic soccer fans residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Initially, they had planned to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after successfully securing tickets for four different matches through a draw, totaling 24 tickets costing around $5,500. However, upon learning that Toronto would host the 2026 World Cup, they opted to wait and experience the event on home ground.
As the countdown to the global tournament in Toronto approaches, Patel and many other fans have faced challenges in acquiring tickets despite a surplus of unsold tickets being sold at high prices. Patel expressed frustration at missing out on ticket lotteries and being priced out of the resale market.
Soccer writer Simon Kuper mentioned that prices for Canada’s matches could significantly decrease in the upcoming days to ensure full stadium attendance. FIFA’s resale prices for Toronto’s opening match have already dropped, offering a glimmer of hope for fans like Patel to secure reasonably priced tickets.
FIFA, responsible for selling and reselling World Cup tickets, recently reduced the resale price for Toronto’s first match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina to $534, down from over $1,300 earlier this month. Patel acknowledged the expected premium for Toronto tickets but expressed concerns about affordability, highlighting the challenges faced in securing tickets for her family.
Despite the ticketing woes, Patel remains optimistic about finding alternative ways for her family to experience the World Cup outside of Toronto Stadium. She emphasized the importance of her Canadian-born children witnessing the event locally and expressed determination in securing tickets for her family before the tournament begins.