Will Vickers, an ardent World Cup enthusiast, has found a more affordable way to follow the tournament after realizing travel to the US, Canada, and Mexico was out of his budget. Many match tickets are also prohibitively expensive.
The idea for this alternative route began in Marrakech where he and friends watched Morocco draw against Brazil with locals on vacation.
This experience eased Vickers’ FOMO (fear of missing out), leading him to continue traveling to different places and watch games there, as his friend suggested: “I’m only 21 once for the World Cup.”
The trips have been relatively cheap compared to attending matches in person. For instance, he spent $53 to travel from Manchester to Charleroi, Belgium, then Brussels where he watched Belgium play Iran at a fan zone.
He then took another bus to Paris, where he stayed for one night and watched France play Iraq, an experience that cost around $60.
The next stop was Tuzla, Bosnia, which had “the best atmosphere,” with fans celebrating the 3-1 result against Qatar until early hours of the morning. He spent $52 getting to Croatia, taking a bus from Bosnia to Slavonski Brod where he slept on a local’s sofa.
Vickers estimates he’ll spend about $600 on his travels – a fraction of what it might cost to attend the tournament in person.
While it doesn’t compare to being at a match, Vickers says the experience comes close. “It’s not like being at a match, but it’s really not far off,” he says.
Record prices, dynamic pricing and uncapped resale have made World Cup tickets unaffordable for many fans. Byrke Sestok, a partner at Moneco Advisors, suggests watch parties as an amazing way to be part of the experience of major sporting events. It’s much less expensive and just about as good.
Europe offers relatively affordable options with rail passes and youth hostels helping keep costs low. But travelers should plan conservatively, he adds, as expenses can quickly add up.
“If you are going on a stretched budget, you may want to think twice about that,” Sestok says. Balance is key, noting spending on experiences should not come at the expense of financial stability.
“Enjoy within your means. You don’t need a match ticket to enjoy a major event.” Vickers attended watch parties, fan zones and local bars to experience the atmosphere, excitement and sense of community around big sporting moments.