The World Cup has always been sold as a global party, an event that transcends the pitch and takes over streets, squares and parks. For millions of fans who cannot afford a stadium ticket, fan zones have historically been the perfect refuge: giant screens, a festive atmosphere and free access. However, ahead of the next World Cup, that spirit seems to be in jeopardy. In New York, soccer fans will have to pay around 10 euros just to watch the matches on giant screens, a decision that has already generated outrage and reopens the debate about the growing commercialization of the tournament.
Fans who want to attend the so-called “FIFA Fan Festival” in the New York/New Jersey area will have to pay for it. An official website for the event includes a link to purchase advance tickets that redirects directly to Ticketmaster. There, fans can select the day they wish to attend and see that access will not be free.
For example, to watch the match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the ticket price is $12.50. Other matches on the schedule are similarly priced, confirming that this is not an isolated case, but a widespread policy for access to these collective viewing areas.
A drastic change
The move is a clear break with tradition. For decades, fan zones have been open spaces, designed to foster inclusion, attract tourists and allow local people to feel part of the event, even without entering the stadiums. Turning these spaces into paid venues completely alters that philosophy and leaves out, once again, fans with fewer resources.At the moment, it is not clear whether the decision to charge admission has been taken directly by FIFA or whether it is the result of an initiative by the host city and local organisers. Whatever the origin, the reputational damage threatens to be considerable. In a context in which ticket prices for matches have already been heavily criticised, this new cost is seen as another twist of the screw.
Earlier this month, following the World Cup draw, FIFA was forced to respond to a wave of criticism over its pricing system, which many described as the most expensive in the tournament’s history. The initial fees left thousands of fans feeling that the World Cup was becoming an event exclusively for economic elites.
Faced with media and social pressure, the world’s football governing body introduced a small number of “more affordable” tickets for each match, priced at around 50 euros.
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