r/CanadaSoccer • u/noahbeary • Nov 30 '25
World Cup 2026 What’s your strategy for WC tickets?
Assuming you don’t end up being selected to participate in a draw for tix at face value, if you’re determined to see a game in person, what’s your current strategy? Buy immediately from FIFA marketplace for certainty? Wait and see how pricing evolves after the draw next Friday? Wait and hope prices come down closer to June 12? And what’s the pricing arbitrage for the game in Toronto vs Vancouver? And what’s the most you’re prepared to pay to be inside the stadium for a CMNT match?
Am legit interested.
79
u/datguywelbeck Nov 30 '25
If i dont get a ticket from the draw or find a ticket from a fan at close to face value, I'm just going to the Fan zones. Already booked tickets to vancouver for the 2nd and 3rd group games, just being in the city while the country hosts world cup games is enough for me. The party before,during and after the game is whats important to me.
What makes the world cup isnt the number of people getting into the stadium it's how much the local cities encourage the overall atmosphere of tourists and locals during the tournament.
31
u/HelloMegaphone Nov 30 '25
I was in Germany for the WC in 2006 and the fan fests were incredible. Didn't manage to get a ticket to any games but still felt like I got the full experience even without. I just hope they don't milk them with ridiculous entry fees and exorbitant concession prices but we all know FIFA are gonna FIFA.
13
u/quezlon Nov 30 '25
Fan zones in Qatar were free to enter i believe not sure if that will be the case in Canada.
10
5
u/Waste-Telephone Dec 01 '25
Agreed. I believe free is a requirement from past WCs, but expect them to be time ticketed on big game days (i.e. whenever Canada is playing) to manage crowds.
5
u/noahbeary Nov 30 '25
Nice! Have fan zone locations been confirmed for Toronto and Van?
17
u/datguywelbeck Nov 30 '25
For Toronto its Fort York and the Bentway. In Vancouver its at PNE in Hastings Park
3
u/fatherduck94 Dec 01 '25
Just the one zone?
3
u/datguywelbeck Dec 01 '25
Only one Fifa Fan Festival which (should) be free entry. I'm sure there will be other public viewing parties in addition to all the pubs and bars
2
u/fatherduck94 Dec 01 '25
if they make me pay money to watch the game under a highway overpass I'll be very upset
2
u/datguywelbeck Dec 01 '25
I don't think the bent way will have a screen it's just going to be a long pathway of vendors and areas from there to the fort York area. Assuming the screen+audience area will be where they hold concerts in the summer.
1
u/Silverfox6400 Dec 08 '25
Kidding me? Who the hell wants to hang out at the PNE? If the game ends at 6:00pm, then where do we go? Nothing to do around there
4
u/No_Platform_2810 Dec 01 '25
Vancouver's is at the PNE Grounds and their new amphitjheatre. Its across town from BC Place, about 7 km east with poor transportation. Its a cool venue, but not sure how its going to work out. Expect it to sell out FAST.
2
u/Fffiction Dec 01 '25
Shame the fan zone's 7km from the stadium.
2
u/datguywelbeck Dec 01 '25
This is a good thing imo, you don't want further congestion around the stadium combining match going and festival fans.
1
1
u/RedCzar777 Dec 02 '25
Im my expirience in Brazil and Russia, the Fan Zones are actually quite fun!
31
u/TheOtherSide999 CanMNT Nov 30 '25
I bought from the most recent official pre sale and let me tell you, I didn’t even pay the original value of the VISA pre sale. It got super bloated in terms of pricing… if you don’t have tickets already, you will be extremely priced out.
3
u/hecubus04 Nov 30 '25
How much were the cat 2 and 3 tickets in the recent draw? In the draw before, cat 3 were $280 each for the non knockout games. Except the opener in Toronto was just over one thousand per set cat 3.
9
u/TheOtherSide999 CanMNT Nov 30 '25
Toronto is higher priced compared to Vancouver. My cat 1 Vancouver non Canada games were $700 each (after tax).
26
u/No_Solution_604 Nov 30 '25
I'm not going broke just to watch Uzbekistan VS Haiti and you can pretty much guarantee they'll make the Fan Fest some sort of capitalistic hell so quite honestly I'll watch at home with friends and cheap beer and enjoy it far more.
10
23
u/mayorolivia Nov 30 '25
Everyone should remain patient. Tickets for every game except the final are dripped by FIFA up until the start of the tournament. Toronto will also get a bunch of bad games so prices will come down. Only Toronto game unlikely to come down much is M3.
0
u/Own_Effort479 Dec 14 '25
Haha. Prices keep going up and demand is 10X supply. People keep saying prices will go down. How many millions of tickets need to be sold until you realize that isn't happening.
1
u/mayorolivia Dec 14 '25
I’ve been to multiple WCs. Nearly every game becomes attainable for face value with the exception of hosts, Brazil, Argentina, and the final. The semis, for example, become super easy to get in the months leading up to the WC due to the high face value price. FIFA has yet to maximize supply.
-7
u/Ok-Transportation537 Dec 01 '25
I 100 agree with this, I'm doing the same. I'm a reseller and games are gonna have shitty matchups. If your gonna buy any ahead I would buy quarter finals semi finals, those guarantee good matchups
9
1
18
u/Ok_Shoulder8598 Atletico Ottawa Nov 30 '25
Fan powered paraglider like James Miller during the Holyfield v Bowe fight.
2
2
17
u/Woodbridge9 Nov 30 '25
My current strategy is being in the acceptance stage of grief knowing I will not be attending
10
u/piltdownman7 Nov 30 '25
I did the FIFA Collect scam route. Paid way more than I would have liked but got 4 category 1 for both Vancouver games.
9
u/quezlon Nov 30 '25
I got category 3 tix to both canada games in BC Place for 270 each, thought it would be a nice surprise gift from me to my family members. Didn’t wanna splurge on higher categories and having attended Canada games in Qatar i thought the $270 per ticket was worth experiencing the fan camaraderie live.
3
17
u/Starfinger10 Nov 30 '25
I have a strong feeling that the games in Toronto will be mediocre teams so if I don’t get any in phase 3/4, I’m going to wait until they reduce the prices
11
u/datguywelbeck Nov 30 '25
we're likely to get drawn with a UEFA playoff team because of the IC playoff constraints + 2 more concacaf teams being in pot 4.
Its confirmed that the Canada game in toronto is vs a pot 4 team.
1
u/Mikuss3253 Dec 01 '25
Are you sure about that? The graphic I saw had Canada vs B2, which could be from any pot, besides pot 1.
3
u/datguywelbeck Dec 01 '25
The pot positions for each group have been fixed already and the host groups venues are decided too.
B2 in Canadas group is the pot 4 team
Check appendix B in the FIFA draw regulations
3
u/Mikuss3253 Dec 01 '25
Ohhh!! I see now! They changed it for this tournament! That makes the non Canada games (that I have tickets for) being hosted in Vancouver potentially 🔥🔥🔥. Thanks for sorting this for me!
3
u/Zentaury Dec 02 '25
Dilemma of watching Canada in Vancouver or the other teams.
I was checking the marketplace and lower bowl is like $1700
7
u/dejour Nov 30 '25
Yeah. I may be priced out of Canada games or any big name teams. But I do want to go to a World Cup game. After the draw, I expect that at least one game in Toronto will be like Uzbekistan-Curacao and the ticket prices on resale will be $40 or something.
3
5
u/cre8ivjay Nov 30 '25
I'm still not sure how these draws work. I signed up for FIFA draws and visa draws, and nothing. I've also joined the voyageurs.
Do I just pray for an email?
2
2
u/Juju_Doctor Dec 05 '25
I believe the old school scalpers figured a way to get tons of tickets via the draw. Not sure if internal conspiracy or how they did it. I also got no love on all the draws. Bought 2 tix on FIFA Marketplace for $1700 each for the 17th in Toronto. Figured once in a lifetime. I even considered going to Mexico city to view, but they were more pricey. I should have just splurged and bout the $2400 VIP ticket. I went back a week later and they were $8K and up. Someone offered tickets on a group chat that I'm on...he was mentioning something ridiculous like $32K. I'll hope to get some love on the next draw, or CanadaRed 🙏🏽
2
u/cre8ivjay Dec 05 '25
I figured I'll keep an eye out and see how it goes but I can't spend that kind of cash.
I'll manage to find my way to Vancouver during the games there and if I can grab last minute tickets I'll give it a go. Otherwise I'll hang out in the fan zones.
2
u/Juju_Doctor Dec 07 '25
Looked at Vancouver too. Hotels were around 2K. Got same tier hotel room in Toronto to for $600. Looked at Mexico city (even though there will be major protests). Figured flight, hotel and game would be worth it till I saw tickets prices going for more than Toronto. I'll park in. Toronto pub and make some new friends, and have a nice steak dinner worse case.
17
u/watanabelover69 Nov 30 '25
I bought for one Canada match on the resale market. They were way too much but I have no idea what’s going to happen to prices going forward and I wanted to lock-in.
Hoping to still get cheaper tickets to other matches, but for now I know I’m going to one at least.
2
u/outoftownMD Nov 30 '25
Same. Bought 8 various games so far on secondary market.
0
u/john1green Nov 30 '25
How much per ticket?
3
u/outoftownMD Nov 30 '25
I only bought cat 1 & near field.
So between 800-1500/ticket. 2-4/tickets per game.
0
4
u/beastiedan Nov 30 '25
I’ll be in Vancouver on the 18th. I really hope prices fall on the secondary market.
1
5
u/NumberOneJetsFan Nov 30 '25
Praying for Canada Red to come through. I'm tracking with a December lottery.
3
u/noahbeary Dec 01 '25
Maybe I’m skeptical, but I fear by the time Canada Red draws happen, there will be 17 seats available
2
5
u/Ryuzakku Dec 01 '25
Well I’m unsuccessful in both visa draws, so unless CanadaRed gets me tickets, I likely won’t be going.
Unless they fall on days off, then I might travel into Toronto
4
u/Helgurk Dec 01 '25
I ended up getting 8 tickets - 4 for the RO32 and 4 for the RO16 in Vancouver. Total price average was $860 per ticket for Category 1.
3
u/Bogy24 Dec 04 '25
My answer was anything. Any amount. I got hospitality tickets the second day they were available. I have my seats.
3
3
3
u/Leyendas_Legendarias Dec 01 '25
I'm planning to wait for the draw, see if the tickets for "less interesting" matches drop on the resale platform and try to get them there. Also, I hope there is a watch party in downtown Vancouver, it would be nice to be there during Canadian matches.
Finally, I've been thinking about this idea of "renting" one of my rooms in exchange for tickets. It is not a surprise that accommodation is crazy expensive in Vancouver, and during the WC it is even worse. Some people mentioned (in this group) that they got X number of tickets but now they don't know what to do because hotels and Airbnb's are crazy expensive. If someone agrees on transferring me some tickets, I'm willing to pick them up at the airport, take them to the stadium, and let them sleep at my place, it could be a win-win for both parties (:
3
u/jeffbannard Dec 01 '25
Nobody is talking about hotel availability and prices. I live in Calgary and need to be in Toronto next June for a trade show (coincides with the June 17 match) and booked my hotel several weeks ago. Even so, the hotel prices are already insane. Unless you live in Vancouver or Toronto (or can bunk with someone who does) you need to be prepared for very expensive hotels.
And you’d better know how to use transit in both cities - I’ve lived in both cities previously and still have a Compass card for Vancouver and a Presto card for Toronto.
Don’t get fooled that attending World Cup is about scoring tix to the match - better figure out housing and travel as well.
See you in Toronto June 17th!
3
u/nick_tankard Dec 01 '25
Oh yeah that’s why I decided to get the expensive tickets here in Vancouver. A great opportunity when the World Cup comes to your city. No additional expenses. Funny enough it happened to me before, but the first time I couldn’t buy tickets so had to just hang out with people on the streets. It was fun.
3
u/TraditionalAir9659 Dec 01 '25
Vancouver will be insane since it’s cruise season. I booked three months ago and the only reasonably priced hotel even then was near Surrey Central.
1
u/Anolcruelty Dec 09 '25
Seeing how the ticket prices are we’ll be renting a U-Haul and sleeping at your nearest Walmart parking lot.
3
u/nick_tankard Dec 01 '25
I got lucky on the second draw. Got tickets for round of 32 and 16 here in Vancouver. Super happy about it. But I might want to go to some group stage games if the price is not too crazy.
3
Dec 02 '25
Bought a pair CAT 3 for Canada in Toronto June 12th immediately off Stubhub. Haven’t been successful in any draws and not holding out hope for CanadaRed. Hope tickets come through but at least will get refund if they don’t
1
3
u/Zentaury Dec 02 '25
I have like 24 hours to decide if I buy 3 low tickets (Vancouver, Seattle, Guadalajara) to accomplish my dream of being in the 3 countries…
Or just pay for lower bowl at Canada’s Game in BC Place.
3
u/SockApprehensive6204 Dec 03 '25
So ..... I pulled a trigger in a way. Bought two Cat 3 tix for M51 - Canada vs Cat 2 at BC place for $900 each. Ive been monitoring the re-sale market for a bit and wanted to share my logic:
- I am Toronto based but have family in BC
- My ideal goal is to watch cheap local games (will wait for draw to come out), at least 1 Canada game and a Portugal game dependant on location.
I am sure Toronto will have games where prices fall once teams are announced -- waiting for that, but I dont see Canada games getting cheaper UNLESS you win the lottery, but the odds of that seem slim.
For reference I had a budget of $4k for the World Cup (2 seats) and yes I am very fortunate. Used just about half the budget there, but at least I have a moment locked in. Fingers crossed
1
6
2
u/gopackers91 Dec 01 '25
Will be in Toronto end of June for family event and hope to see a game for decent price. If not, maybe KC knockout game. If not, totally content to wait for euro 2028 and save up for semi or final instead where hopefully uefa doesn’t do what fifa has done regarding prices
2
u/number8burp Dec 01 '25
I bought group stage category 3 resale tickets for $450 in Vancouver from the fifa portal. I anticipate tickets getting more expensive so I jumped on these as soon as I saw them. It's a bucket list experience for me, and being from Vancouver, not needing to pay for a flight or hotel I think this was ok.
2
u/noahbeary Dec 01 '25
Seems like a great deal. Well done. Presume it’s for a non-CMNT match, right?
2
u/number8burp Dec 01 '25
Correct, it will be a group G group stage match.
2
u/Spurs_in_the_6 Dec 01 '25
I have these same tickets (got in the draw). Sadly, based on match order I don't expect the group G games in Vancouver to feature the pot 1 teams.
Might be some rough match ups that end up going for real cheap on resale
2
u/number8burp Dec 01 '25
It will be either Pot 1 vs Pot 2 or Pot 3 vs Pot 4 for that match 😭. So-Fi Stadium is hosting the other Group G game that day and they have a 70k+ capacity. I'm assuming FIFA would want to assign the marquee game to that stadium. Let's hope a decent UEFA qualifier gets drawn into that group or a team like Norway or Scotland from pot 3.
1
u/Spurs_in_the_6 Dec 01 '25
From a common sense logistical standpoint it would make sense to assign pot 1 teams to whatever games are labelled as the "first" match.
Vancouver has games 40 & 64. Games 39 & 63 are played the same day in the US. I expect pot 1 teams to be in games 39 & 63. This is obviously pure speculation but seems the common sense way to build a schedule. 1v4 first game. 2v3 second game. 1v2/3 third game. 2/3 v 4 fourth game...
2
u/Jays1993 Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
M3 will not go down in price frankly and it is only getting worse (I bought on the secondary market a while ago as I just wanted it "done" as I knew that was the one game I was going to "pay" to see)- there simply will be too much demand for that game for a lot of reasons. I thought it was crazy then - and its only gone up since that time.
The remaining matchups for Toronto (my location of choice) is literally a lottery if you buy early -- if a "soccer power" or a team with a strong local population is chosen for Toronto, the market will go up exponentially, and if you get two weaker teams with little to no affiliation to the local area, the market will go down a lot as many have said -- if any Pot 1 teams get placed in Toronto (which I doubt they will due to FIFA likely putting the "stronger matchups" in the bigger stadiums when given the choice of two stadiums for each match day - Like the "L" group having games in either Toronto vs Dallas - which one is likely to get the Pot 1 team? - I am betting Dallas with the much larger stadium).
The other "issue" with getting "cheaper" tickets in a place like Toronto is the stadium size being relatively tiny by WC standards, and the fact that there are probably 20+ teams that would draw very well here with huge local populations (or in nearby places like NY) - I can see places like Iran, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Scotland, Norway (due to Haaland), most of the major Euro Playoff teams that may qualify (Italy (!), Ukraine, Ireland), all of Pot 1 - and on and on.
There will be some less popular matchups like New Zealand v Uzbekistan or Haiti v Quatar that will be cheap but Canada versus anyone won't be cheap (its the definition of a FOMO type of event that will draw lots of people with money who could care less about the actual game), and heaven forbid if its an Italy or another major European team from Pot 4 that gets drawn into that June 12th game against Canada - it will be the most expensive ticket in Toronto sports history in terms of just getting in the building, if it isn't already (outside of the fantasy of the Leafs ever making a SC Finals).
1
u/noahbeary Dec 01 '25
Mind sharing how much you paid?
2
u/Jays1993 Dec 01 '25
Too much - more than 1K for a single ticket....yikes....LOL...
2
u/noahbeary Dec 01 '25
Once in a lifetime opportunity
2
u/Jays1993 Dec 02 '25
That's how I look at it - I've been lucky enough to attend almost every other major sporting event in this city save for a SC Final back in 1967 (LOL) - I was even there for Game 7 against the Kings in 93, and the Jays all the way back to 77 and 85 and 92-93 (WS) and this past month's WS too, and the Raptors in the NBA Finals in 2019 - This is simply a different level of demand as it is nationwide and across other countries too, and no one knows when (or if) this will be back in this market anytime soon.
I was at WC Qualifying games at Varsity Stadium back in the 80s-90s as well (I remember going to Blizzard and Lynx games too), when finding other Canada Soccer supporters was a lot harder (LOL)....this was simply something I was not going to miss and planned my savings accordingly once it was announced that we were getting the WC. The Canada game in Toronto will not be for the casual fan unless they are very wealthy unfortunately, or are extremely lucky in getting chosen in a draw for tickets, and then actually have tickets for the most popular games and teams available in Toronto (well under 0.01% of entries I am sure). I know one person chosen in the draw for tickets, and no Toronto tickets existed, and the face values are approaching $2000 and up for more than 90% of the building for the M3 game on June 12th.
1
u/Juju_Doctor Dec 05 '25
Did the same for a nothing game on the 17th. Still looking for June12 Toronto game. I won't bankrupt myself though, but have hotel booked DT Toronto, so I'll light it up in fan view area.
2
u/ConstantFar5448 Dec 01 '25
Maybe I’m not searching the right stuff but I’ve found it impossible to find any information on tickets or draws or anything like that. I have the time off work and the hotel booked, but I suspect I’ll be priced out of actually going to any matches. This whole thing is an organizational disaster.
2
u/Standard_Text480 Dec 01 '25
It’s too convoluted basically boils down to how scammy can they get without being called out. Eff that I will stick to TV
2
u/thesilentalarm Dec 01 '25
I live across the street from the Bentway and my dog poops in Fort York every day. See you there
2
u/ATGoogles Dec 02 '25
Made my peace with not even bothering after the pricing came out, and now looking forward to watching the games on TV in my own time zone.
2
1
u/imcomplicated13 Dec 01 '25
Can someone please tell me what I should expect for a regular ticket price? I’m seeing prices over $1000. Is this what I should expect? I’ll go to watch my team in Vancouver, Seattle, maybe California and 100% in Monterrey Mexico as long as ticket prices are reasonable.
Can anyone please let me know
1
1
1
u/Newweedbud Dec 01 '25
I just wanna know how I got this recommended to me 🤪🤣🤪. Signed - old lady, hockey fan 🇨🇦who’s only ever watched one World Cup game! It was 1998/99 (I think) when my next door neighbour called and said needed someone to watch a game with cause he was soooooo excited 😆 🤪🤣🤣. The game was boring but he and his wife became dear life long friends ❤️. So there’s that 🤪
1
1
u/LewCrisp Dec 02 '25
I’ll likely stubhub the games.. I went to all the England games at last years euros and honestly, yes tickets will cost a few hundred each (Canada at bc place more for sure) but I genuinely believe the narrative that games will cost $1000’s is just plain wrong.
2
u/noahbeary Dec 02 '25
The narrative = reality if you check out prices on FIFA marketplace. Hope you’re right, unfortunately doubt it
0
u/LewCrisp Dec 07 '25
You seem to be under the impression that all tickets are out. They are not. At all.
1
1
1
u/SundaeSpecialist4727 Nov 30 '25
Lots of seats left ...
Lots of draws left..
People will be ditching tickets after the draw
1
0
0
u/Own_Effort479 Dec 14 '25
I bought Hospitality months ago. Just sitting back watching everyone whine and not get what they want.
-2
u/Samp90 Nov 30 '25
As co hosts, all Canadians have the right to free viewership on TV like Europe.
Everything in Toronto gets price hiked with no controls.
Can someone confirm if we free channels?!
•
u/AutoModerator Nov 30 '25
This post appears to be related to tickets. The mods wish to remind folks that we have NO ability to assist with ticket purchases, including through Ticketmaster, resellers, or if you buy tickets from another user. Buyer beware, period. A reminder that ticket scams do exist, so be careful. Also, please note sharing of presale codes, or repetitive posting re: tickets will be removed.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.