Football supporters face higher-than-expected ticket prices and new US visa requirements

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Football fans hoping to head to the US for next year's FIFA World Cup have been hit with a double whammy of bad news this week. There's been huge backlash after ticket pricing details were released on Friday at much higher prices than FIFA initially promised. And the US government announced earlier in the week that visitors from 42 countries including Australia will have to hand over five years of social media history before being allowed into the US. Patrick Clancy is the Chair of the Football Supporters Association of Australia.

Transcript

00:00Yeah, the ticket prices are outrageous, scandalous even,

00:06and it's shocked a lot of football fans from Australia

00:12who are looking at going.

00:15Saying that, I don't think it'll discourage many.

00:19Our football supporters that go over to World Cups just love it.

00:26This is the pinnacle of the game

00:27and there's no better experience in world sport

00:31than going to a World Cup.

00:32So, yeah, it's just bloody expensive, historically expensive,

00:38but, you know, this is a dream for so many fans.

00:43No doubt.

00:44How does it compare then, as you say, historically high prices,

00:48how does it compare to previous World Cups?

00:51Look, I've seen some calculations by our football supporters groups

00:57in Europe and the UK, and the prices are double or triple.

01:03The minimum prices are double or triple what they were in Qatar.

01:08And it's also just disappointing because FIFA said

01:11that you'd be able to get tickets for as low as US$60,

01:16but in reality for Socceroos fans,

01:21the minimum price for the group games is about $210.

01:26And as you say, you know, there'd be plenty of people

01:29who just love it so much that they'll do anything to make it happen.

01:32But cost of living crisis, some people don't have the option there.

01:35So how does that fit in line with the spirit of the game, I guess?

01:39Yeah, I mean, fans make the game.

01:43They make the atmosphere.

01:45They just provide so much to their teams.

01:50And so, you know, for FIFA and for the organising committee

01:54of the World Cup to spring these prices upon fans

01:58is just so disappointing.

02:00And, yeah.

02:01But, look, I'm just conscious also to say that, you know,

02:05we really encourage Australians, if they can,

02:08and they're interested, to go along to the World Cup.

02:13You know, it is an amazing experience.

02:16It's, yeah, you'll just remember it for years and years to come.

02:19And we want people in the stands spurring on our Socceroos.

02:26Yeah, we want our players to know that our fans

02:29are absolutely behind them.

02:30Something else that people will have to factor in

02:32if they're wanting to head over to the US, potentially,

02:35is this proposal from the Trump administration

02:37that visitors from many countries, including Australia,

02:40will have to disclose their social media histories

02:43if they want to head over.

02:45What do you make of that proposal?

02:48Yeah, there's a lot of fear and uncertainty.

02:51You know, as you know, there's so little detail about this,

02:54but so much concern.

02:57And, you know, what exactly does this mean?

03:01What sort of posts will rule you out from getting a visa

03:06to go to the World Cup?

03:09Yeah, as I said, just so much fear and uncertainty.

03:12And it's just absolutely unacceptable that someone's social media posts

03:17or political thoughts should rule them out from going to a sports event

03:20anywhere in the world.

03:21It's just the absolute thin edge of the wedge.

03:24We just, yeah, very unacceptable from our perspective.

03:28Do you think it will deter some fans?

03:33It's possible.

03:34But as I said before, you know,

03:36the World Cup is just an amazing experience

03:38and you'll do anything to try and get there.

03:41And you'll do anything to try and get there.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended