{"id":681801,"date":"2026-05-20T11:49:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/681801\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T11:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:49:12","slug":"fans-disappointed-over-ticket-hotel-costs-during-world-cup-in-vancouver-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/681801\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans disappointed over ticket, hotel costs during World Cup in Vancouver"},"content":{"rendered":"

VANCOUVER \u2014 Chris Van Brockhoven booked his trip to Vancouver last summer in the hopes of attending a World Cup match, but after learning the cost of admission, his group felt forced to pivot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were flabbergasted at how expensive the tickets are and how much people are seemingly paying for them,\u201d he said in an interview.<\/p>\n

All four men in his group entered the FIFA selection draws, but he said when they were given the opportunity to buy about a month ago, the prices were \u201ccrazy.\u201d He said he has also been trolling social media and resell pages, but the tickets he has seen are about $2,000 each.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d pay that for a season ticket over here for a top English club. We just can\u2019t justify that sort of spend,\u201d said Van Brockhoven, who lives in London, England. <\/p>\n

Jarrett Vaughan, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia\u2019s Sauder School of Business, said \u201cone of the biggest challenges that visitors have when coming to Vancouver is just simply the cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

He highlighted the accommodation industry, which he said is likely pricing some visitors out of the market. <\/p>\n

\u201cHotel accommodations are very expensive in Vancouver no matter what\u2019s happening, and so you then add this layer of (more) visiting guests and this added pressure drives obviously room rates higher,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

To become an Airbnb host in Vancouver, the listing must be your principal residence and you must obtain a City of Vancouver short-term rental business licence and register with the province. <\/p>\n

Vaughan said the application process is likely a deterrent for many, as it costs about $1,200 annually and \u201cthere\u2019s significant risk because you might not be able to rent it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

World Cup Facebook forums are filled with people listing their homes for rent during the games, seemingly under the table. <\/p>\n

Vaughan said that\u2019s not surprising.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat people do is they kind of black market or grey market or backdoor the system by renting out your place in exchange for tickets or renting it on Facebook and taking the kind of the insurance risk on something like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where I think the misstep is from the provincial and local governments is to open up the economy rather than continue to restrict it like they\u2019re doing currently, which is why hotel rates are so high, which is why we\u2019re gonna see fewer visitors than we should because it\u2019s so unaffordable to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Destination Vancouver says June hotel bookings in the city are down 20 per cent this year when compared with the same time in 2025. However, it said in a statement that it remains hopeful they fill up closer to kickoff. <\/p>\n

\u201cData is dynamic and we\u2019re optimistic of a late surge,\u201d it said, noting that air arrivals to Vancouver between June and August are up six per cent from last year.<\/p>\n

The British Columbia Hotel Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n

Van Brockhoven said his group was luckily not affected by high accommodation costs, which he credits to booking almost a year in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was plenty available, and I wouldn\u2019t say they were like astronomical,\u201d he said, noting the Airbnb cost amounts to about $125 per night per person for the four members of his group. <\/p>\n

Vancouver is among 16 cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico that will host a combined 104 games during the expanded 48-team tournament, running June 11 through July 19. Toronto is also hosting six matches.<\/p>\n

Shushan Vardanyan, a Vancouver mother of a nine-year-old soccer fan, has been trying to find discounted youth tickets in the hopes of bringing her son to see a match, but has been unsuccessful. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe prices are crazy,\u201d she said in an interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoccer is an affordable sport. It\u2019s meant to be an accessible sport and it\u2019s also an inspiration and encouragement for young athletes to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said her family booked vacation around the Vancouver dates, hoping to score some tickets, and they remain optimistic that prices will drop as the tournament nears. However, she said, if they don\u2019t, she and her son will try to find other ways to take part in the action. <\/p>\n

Both Canadian host cities have announced various fan events and activities for those without tickets to enjoy the matches. <\/p>\n

Vancouver\u2019s main fan event outside the stadium will be the official FIFA Fan Festival at the Pacific National Exhibition. It will feature live match broadcasts as well as interactive activities, cultural programming and a live concert series with artists like Flo Rida, Simple Plan and Arkells.<\/p>\n

Van Brockhoven said that with their airfare and accommodation already booked, his group is now planning to make the most of it and though they too are holding out hope that ticket prices will drop at the last minute, they also bought tickets for the fan festival. <\/p>\n

While free entry is an option, they didn\u2019t want to take the risk of being turned away so bought tickets to attend on June 17 and 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole reason we\u2019re coming over was to see the football,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to stop us watching the games and enjoying the atmosphere. We\u2019re just hoping that fan zones are going to be as good as they are in England and other places.\u201d<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2026.<\/p>\n

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

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