The ticket prices at resale platforms surged for the FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto next week, with the average cost of the cheapest ticket surpassing $3,000 late on Saturday, according to data from price-tracking website Ticketdata. Cristiano Ronaldo’s team finished second in Group K after Portugal was held to a draw against Colombia in Miami, while Croatia finished second in Group L following their victory over Ghana in their last group match.
In the round of 32, Portugal will now play Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2. Ronaldo will play Luka Modric, his former Real Madrid teammate.
Ticket Prices Soar High For Portugal vs Croatia Clash
According to Ticketdata, as of 11 p.m. ET (0300 GMT), the average cost of the cheapest ticket on secondary resale websites was $3,225, the highest amount for any round-of-32 game. Ticketdata collects data from resale platforms like Vivid and StubHub.
The price had more than doubled prior to the start of the Portugal vs Colombia match, underscoring FIFA’s dynamic pricing strategy this year.
Group-stage game resale tickets have risen past $1,000 due to the system’s ability to adjust prices in response to demand, which is a common practice at athletic events and concerts in the United States.
According to a previous Reuters report, the cost of both tickets and lodging has made this year’s largest athletic event even more affordable for those with better salaries, indicating a change in the demographics of World Cup ticket buyers.
FIFA has advised supporters to always utilise its official resale platform, claiming that it can only ensure correct ticket delivery through its resale and exchange marketplace.
Portugal has defeated Croatia six times, drawn once, and lost once across all competitions since 2005. Portugal defeated them 4-1 in the 2020 UEFA Nations League, their last encounter. Portugal has the historical advantage. With a capacity of only 30,000, Toronto’s BMO Field is a small stadium by World Cup standards, and the audience will be a true blend of the Portuguese and Croatian diaspora communities in Canada’s biggest metropolis.