By Rohith Nair
March 3 (Reuters) – Tickets for this month’s World Cup Playoff tournament in Mexico went on sale on Tuesday at bargain prices compared to the finals, with fans able to secure a seat for as little as 200 Mexican pesos ($11.33), FIFA announced.
The tournament will determine two of the final six nations to qualify for the first 48-team World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica and Suriname will play at two stadiums that are also venues for the World Cup finals.
Guadalajara and Monterrey will stage the inter-confederation playoff tournament from March 26-31, with FIFA saying ticket prices are in the range of 200 to 300 Mexican pesos.
The prices are in stark contrast to the finals where the eye-watering costs have fans crying foul. The cheapest ticket for the finals is $60 but dynamic pricing and the resale market have left many fans priced out.
GUADALAJARA ‘CALM’ FOLLOWING UNREST
The violence that erupted near host city Guadalajara after the death of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader caused concern but Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was “no risk” to fans coming to the country.
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup reached 100 days to go, officials in Jalisco said the host state was prepared and secure, following unrest that briefly disrupted sporting events in the Guadalajara area.
Head of the Guadalajara Organising Committee, Juan Jose Frangie, said state authorities had stepped up security and remained confident in preparations following violence that erupted after the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho”.
Frangie is also the mayor of Zapopan, home to Estadio Akron – one of Mexico’s venues for the World Cup.
The unrest briefly disrupted sporting events and drew attention to safety in one of the host city regions, but local officials say they are working closely with federal partners ahead of the World Cup.
“We never thought that in 72 hours the metropolitan area would enter a state of calm,” Frangie told Mexican newspaper Milenio.
“There is still a long way to go and there are lingering fears, but by continuing with our activities, we have allowed people to become increasingly confident.
“We are telling people who are coming to the World Cup that it is a safe state, without problems… The National Guard and Ministry of Defence have sent 2,500 more personnel.”
($1 = 17.6512 Mexican pesos)
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru and Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityEditing by Toby Davis)
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