The cost of attending the upcoming World Cup is set to hit fans hard, with ticket prices for Ireland’s matches in the tournament already reaching eye-watering levels.
Cameron Hill, journalist with Off The Ball, spoke to The Anton Savage Show, and highlighted the financial pressure on that will be put on supporters:
"If you look at the cost, it's extortionate."
Fans travelling to Mexico for the group stage face prices up to €595.
Early-stage games are very expensive, Hill explained:
“The cheapest ticket you can get for the South Africa game is €119, going up to €383. If you’re planning on going to Ireland against South Korea, it’s between €153 and €425, and then in the Azteca Stadium, you’ll pay a minimum of €225 and a maximum of €595."
"These prices are just for a bog-standard ticket," he added, with additional costs for plane tickets and transportation to the games.
Hill also warned that the tournament could face off-field challenges due to political factors:
“It’s gonna be quite a dark start, to quite a dark World Cup, off the pitch because of the Trump aspect of it,” referring to a potential US travel ban affecting countries such as Iran and Haiti.
He also explained the team’s schedule for Irish fans:
“Should we get that far, March 26 we head to Prague, and if we win that, it’s winner takes all against either Denmark or North Macedonia in Dublin. But if we make it that far, we play South Korea, and on June 18th, it’s taking on Mexico in Mexico City.”
In addition to ticket concerns, Ireland will face challenges with player availability. Hill said:
“Bad, terrible news for Josh Cullen this week, he was a key part of our midfield, he suffered an ACL injury."
He also mentioned the pressure on younger players like Troy Parrott:
Troy Parrott: Image by Sportsfile“He’s been linked with a few different clubs, West Ham, Everton, in the new season, which is good for Irish fans because they get to see more Troy Parrott, but more pressure, of course, for him."
Despite the concerns over costs, injuries and logistics, Hill is feeling positive about the team’s prospects.
“I am, however, cautiously optimistic on our form, the new year brings the sharp reality of what's going to happen in March."
