With just 24 hours until kickoff, Canada's FIFA World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday afternoon is not expected to be a sellout at Toronto Stadium. Hundreds of seats remain available on FIFA's official ticketing portal, with even more listed on the resale market.
Ticket Availability and Prices
According to ticketdata.com, which aggregates prices from verified resale sites and FIFA's official portal, 477 tickets were listed for sale, with the lowest price at $975. That "get-in" price has risen 4% over the past week, but overall demand remains low. On Stubhub, many tickets are listed well below face value, some by hundreds of dollars.
On FIFA's official site, Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina is the only match among the first 20 across North America not marked as "Limited availability." The second match in Toronto, Croatia vs. Panama, also shows limited supply.
Comparison with Other Toronto Matches
The average ticket price for all games at Toronto Stadium is $609, up 7.4% over the past week. However, Canada's match lags behind others. Germany vs. Côte d'Ivoire has a get-in price of $1,291 with 122 seats available, while Panama vs. Croatia has only a limited supply. Among the six matches in Toronto, only Canada-Bosnia has more than 200 unsold tickets.
Impact on Canada's Opener
The slow sales and falling prices reflect concerns since tickets initially went on sale at high prices. FIFA's Category 1 seats are listed at $3,135, Category 2 at $2,300, and Category 3 at $1,370 with few available. Obstructed-view seats in the upper deck of the West side are priced between $1,040 and $1,410.
Bosnian Fan Presence
The weak demand could benefit Bosnia, with reports suggesting up to 30,000 supporters may attend. While this number exceeds the stadium's 45,000 capacity, Aftonbladet, Sweden's largest newspaper, highlights a "Bosnian invasion of Toronto" and predicts strong support for the underdogs. Social media reports, though unverified, indicate a large travelling contingent.
Despite the empty seats, pre-game festivities are planned, but the lack of a sellout is a disappointment for such a momentous occasion.
