Fans were really shocked when they saw how much the ‘on-the-pitch’ seats cost at the World Cup final.
The amazing view from the $1 million “on-the-pitch” seats at MetLife Stadium has been making waves on social media after people shared photos during the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. For the big game in New Jersey on Sunday, FIFA’s official hospitality partner, On Location, gave fans the chance to buy these special “on-the-pitch” seats.
As you can see in the pictures, 12 comfy cinema-style seats were set up right in the middle of the pitch, giving fans a close-up look at stars like Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. But many people were shocked at the sky-high price of these seats. Just before the game started, journalist Alex M. Silverman shared pictures of this fancy seating area. He said, “The view from the $1 million on-the-pitch seats sold by hospitality provider On Location for the FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium. It’s on the sunny side of the stadium, so sunhats are included.”
Even though these are called the most expensive seats in sports, some fans weren’t happy because the view wasn’t great. A glass barrier in front made it hard to see the game clearly. One fan said, “$1 million and it’s genuinely a terrible view,” while another joked, “The game has well and truly gone.” Others also mentioned the sunhat included seemed to be the only good part of the deal. Another fan added, “And you get an obstructed view with the photographer standing right in front of you the whole game.”
Before the final started, the ticket prices were already causing outrage. Striker Borja Iglesias called the prices “a disgrace.” FIFA’s ticket prices for this tournament have been widely criticized. Ticket site SeatGeek said the average price for World Cup final tickets bought through them was $12,751 (around £9,484). According to The Athletic, tickets for this final were pricier than the latest Super Bowl and NBA Finals games.
This World Cup final has been called the most expensive sports event ever held in the U.S., and even days before the game, some tickets were still available on FIFA’s website for as low as $7,000 (£5,206). On Sunday, Iglesias shared a picture of the seating plan with prices on Instagram, calling it “Una Verguenza,” which means “A disgrace” in English.
Fans and players keep talking about the high prices. After England beat France 6-4 to finish third, defender Marc Guehi also slammed the costs, saying the ticket prices were “rubbish” and added, “I don’t know what they were thinking, FIFA, to be honest.”