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Fans will be required to pay an entry fee to watch World Cup matches at a FIFA fan park for the first time, marking a significant shift from previous tournaments where such events were free to attend.
Supporters unable to secure or afford stadium tickets will be charged to watch matches on giant screens at the New York New Jersey Fan Park during next summer’s tournament. The official website for the fan park directs visitors to Ticketmaster, where tickets priced at $12.50 (£9.40) are already on sale, starting with the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa on June 11.
According to organisers, the fan park, located at Liberty State Park, promises a premium viewing experience, describing it as “set against the breath-taking backdrop of the Manhattan skyline” and claiming it will be best place to watch games outside the stadium.
The move comes amid mounting criticism of FIFA’s ticketing strategy. The governing body faced backlash last week after announcing prices that could see supporters paying more than £5,000 if their team progresses all the way to the final.
Following widespread anger, FIFA softened its stance on Monday by confirming that a limited number of £45 tickets would be released for all 104 matches at the tournament.
However, the introduction of paid fan park access is expected to intensify scrutiny of FIFA’s commercial approach, adding to the growing controversy surrounding preparations for the World Cup, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Pedro Chosco, Unsplash / Cristian Tarzi
