Although several months remain before the FIFA World Cup, excitement has already gripped fans worldwide. With the tournament set to be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, demand for tickets has surged.
Millions of football lovers are eager to watch their favourite teams live from the stands. Amid this soaring demand, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has officially announced the sale of tickets allocated by FIFA for Bangladeshi fans.
The World Cup frenzy has now formally reached Bangladesh. In a press release issued on Saturday, the BFF said that, in line with FIFA guidelines, it will begin distributing and selling tickets to spectators in specific categories.
Application process and deadline
Fans wishing to watch World Cup matches live at the stadium will have five days to apply. Applications will be accepted from Sunday (January 18), until January 22. Application forms, priced at Tk 500 (non-refundable), can be collected and submitted from the reception desk at the BFF House in Motijheel until 4:00pm each day.
Applicants must submit a photocopy of their passport, one photograph, a visiting card and the original bank deposit slip along with the completed form. Each applicant may apply for a maximum of two tickets.
Ticket allocation and marquee matches
The BFF has received a total of 330 tickets from FIFA. Of these, 162 are for group-stage matches. The list includes three group matches each of football giants Brazil and Argentina. In the knockout stages, the allocation includes 46 tickets for the round of 32, 44 for the round of 16, 48 for the quarterfinals and 20 for the semifinals. Only 10 tickets have been allocated for the final.
Sky-high ticket prices
Ticket prices have been set using an exchange rate of Tk 125 per US dollar, with an additional five per cent service charge added by the federation.
For group-stage matches -- including those involving Brazil, Argentina and England -- Category 1 tickets will cost between Tk 78,750 and Tk 119,500. Category 2 tickets are priced from Tk 56,500 to Tk 98,500, while Category 3 tickets range from Tk 28,875 to Tk 44,625.
For round of 32 matches, Category 1 tickets will cost between Tk 69,625 and Tk 103,750. Category 2 tickets are priced between Tk 56,500 and Tk 79,375, and Category 3 tickets between Tk 28,875 and Tk 40,000.
To watch round of 16 matches, Category 1 tickets will cost from Tk 81,375 to Tk 128,625. Category 2 tickets are priced between Tk 67,625 and Tk 103,000, while Category 3 tickets range from Tk 28,875 to Tk 47,875.
Quarterfinal Category 1 tickets will cost between Tk 166,000 and Tk 233,125. Category 2 tickets are priced from Tk 116,875 to Tk 160,125, while Category 3 tickets range from Tk 70,250 to Tk 105,000.
For the semifinals, Category 1 tickets will cost between Tk 399,000 and Tk 432,500. The BFF has not received any Category 2 or Category 3 tickets for the last-four matches.
The Category 1 ticket for the final has been priced at Tk 1,139,250, while Category 2 tickets will cost Tk 731,750. No Category 3 tickets for the final have been allocated to the federation.
Payment and important conditions
Applicants must deposit the full ticket amount into the Bangladesh Football Federation’s account (Account No: 0011301000026653) at UCB Bank’s Motijheel Principal Branch.
The BFF has outlined several strict conditions. The federation’s decision regarding ticket allocation will be final, and the tickets may not be used for commercial purposes or transferred to others. Crucially, the BFF will bear no responsibility for visa-related matters, even if a ticket is issued. Applicants who do not receive tickets will have their deposited money refunded later via bank transfer or account-payee cheque.
