Fans at the World Cup opening match in Mexico City have spoken to the Daily Star about the eye-watering prices of booze and snacks, with some being charged more than £13 for a can of lager, while others handed over nearly £9 for a tub of nuts.
Stadium prices shock locals
A 710ml can of US lager Michelob at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City was on sale for 310 pesos, equivalent to a whopping £13.40. A simple bottle of Corona was around £12.50, as was a humble 355ml Flying Fish beer. Even non-alcoholic options are through the roof: Michelob Zero cost £12.08, while a 600ml bottle of water was £3.45. Fans looking for a snack were also left stunned, with a tub of nuts costing £8.63.
With the average weekly wage in Mexico around £216, supporters pointed out that a couple of drinks and a snack could swallow a sizeable chunk of a worker’s entire income.
Fans express outrage
Market trader Raimondo Cortez, 41, who saved up for three months for a ticket to Mexico’s opening match against South Africa, told the Daily Star he thought prices inside the stadium were “un escándalo” – “a scandal”. “It is take, take, take, always take everywhere,” he said, shaking his head. “FIFA can relax. They don’t have to pay.” Cafe worker Fernando Vietz, 33, said: “I knew what would happen. I have brought my own water. I will not be buying anything.”
Tournament cost concerns
This is the first time tournament stadium prices have been revealed, adding to fans’ fury about the soaring cost of attending the biggest-ever World Cup. Drink prices are expected to be even higher at matches in the US, where many supporters fear paying significantly more for food and refreshments. The tournament, staged across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, has already faced criticism over ticket prices, accommodation costs, and expensive travel between venues.
In his opening remarks on the eve of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged folk to “chill and relax” over explosive ticket costs, stressing every penny of profit will be pumped back into football. Now supporters are lashing out at stadium grub prices too.
