Fans weigh in on ‘insane’ World Cup ticket prices for USA-Belgium match

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Priced too high or just right? That’s the debate: should fans buy a ticket to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play Belgium in Seattle on Monday, or watch from home? FOX 12 spoke with fans, who weighed in on rising prices.

It isn’t cheap to want to cheer for your team at the World Cup.

We looked up ticket prices for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team match against Belgium in Seattle.

The cheapest tickets we found on StubHub were about $2,200, while the most expensive were $13,000. On Ticketmaster, prices ranged from about $3,000 to $8,500.

“I think it’s absurd, it really should be that expensive to go support your team and to go have fun,” said fan Zein Alali.

Alali is going to the match on Monday but said his friend won a $500 ticket in a lottery.

But not all were as lucky, which is why some said they’ll head to their nearest sports bar here at home to watch for free.

“For it to be that high, that’s like maybe two of my checks, which is insane. I’m not going to buy those tickets,” said fan Isabelle Chavez.

“You would expect its citizens to get a discount, 20% or something,” said fan Samira Perez.

While others said they managed to get a ticket to the big match without the steep price.

“We just swore to each other we’re going to a game, no matter what, we’re pulling money out of our savings, we’re doing what we need to do,” said fan Gabriel Santacruz.

Santacruz said he and his friends were able to get their ticket for around $430, but tickets in the same row are now selling for $3,200.

“Even after we got the tickets, I think about a month later, even then they were up to about a thousand. They just doubled, and then at one point it is just ridiculous,” said Santacruz.

And for those who got priced out, they said watching the World Cup with your community in your own backyard is priceless.

“You can make the prices as high as you want, we’re still going to come together as a people. This is free, ok, free 99. I didn’t have to spend a dollar of my check, and I’m still around amazing people,” said Perez.

You can watch Team USA take on Belgium in the World Cup on Monday, July 6, on FOX 12.