Fancy paying S$1,488 for a ticket to the World Cup?

MOSCOW — Fifa said on Tuesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time) the top price for a ticket to the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow will be US$1,100 (S$1,488), up from US$990 for the 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro. This is the first time that World Cup ticket prices have broken the US$1,000 barrier.

Other tickets for the final will cost US$710 and US$455, with additional Category 4 tickets — which are sold exclusively to Russian residents — costing 7,040 rubles (S$147).

For international fans, tickets for first-round games range from US$105 to US$210, except for the opener, which costs from US$220 to US$550. The first-round range for the 2014 tournament was US$90-$175, meaning the cost of the least expensive seat has risen 16 per cent. Prices are US$115 to US$245 for the round of 16, US$175 to US$365 for the quarter-finals and the third-place match, and US$285 to US$750 for the semifinals.

Russian residents will get discounted rates, with their cheapest first-round tickets selling for 1,280 rubles, an increase on equivalent prices for 2014 but roughly in line with prices for South African fans in 2010. World Cup ticket sales will not start until after the 2017 Confederations Cup (June 17-July 2) in Russia.

Fifa secretary-general Fatma Samoura said in a statement that “we wanted to make sure that we priced tickets fairly to make the events accessible to as many people as possible”.

“Fifa met us half way. Category 4 tickets, which will be sold only to Russian supporters will be introduced,” said Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko at a news conference. “They are even cheaper than the tickets which were sold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” he said following a meeting between Fifa and the Russia 2018 local organising committee.

He added that Russia would learn from the experience of Euro 2016 about working with and monitoring supporters.

Russian football fans were blamed for violence before the Euro 2016 match with England in Marseille on June 11. Around 20 supporters were deported to Russia, while three fans received prison sentences in France ranging from one to two years.

“The Russian government has given all the necessary safety guarantees for the 2018 World Cup. We will do everything so that people from all countries will feel comfortable in Russia,” added Mutko. AGENCIES