December 13, 2025 • 23 mins
The All Whites have been drawn with Belgium, Iran and Egypt in group G at the newly-expanded 48-team tournament as part of next year's FIFA World Cup.
But how much will Kiwi supporters have to pay to see all these group fixtures live in the United States and Canada next year?
Flying Kiwis FC supporters group founder Matt Fejos joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The All Whites twenty twenty six feet of World Cup
Paul play schedule has been confirmed. They'll play Iran in
Los Angeles and Egypt and Belgium in Vancouver. So how
easy or not are tickets to get and what will
they cost? Matt Fijos is the founder of the Flying
Kiwi's FC supporters group. He joins me in studio. Let's
(00:34):
start with the group. Matt, you're happy with the teams
that the All Whites have been drawn against.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, happy for us in terms of the teams that
there's one, of course, really strong team, but there's two
other games that you know, we can go in and
have a go at and you only need really by
my maths, I think three points will get you through
as one of the best place third, which is new
with the forty eight teams.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Indeed. All right, so how do traveling New Zealand football
fans access tickets to these games? A very broad question
to start with people listening they think about going. What's
the situation with getting tickets to these games?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Great? So generally the FIFA dot Com have a ballot
that anybody can enter from around the world. So that's
where a lot of this fear of loss drives people,
because they've already reported that they've had five million applications
within the first I think it was twenty four hours.
So that's for all fans from anywhere who for example,
if there's I don't know, a Brazil game or Argentina
(01:32):
or Spain or England, you know, there'll be fans from
around the world that would want to apply for them.
And this small piece of hope and soul in this
is about eight percent of sealable tickets which get the
allocation of them gets controlled by the member association by
the country that is playing, So for New Zealand, that's
(01:53):
New Zealand Football and I think that's one of the
most positive things here. And something that I've been planning
and thinking about for quite a while is that, you know,
four thousand fans from New Zealand roughly doing the maths
on that allocation seems like it, you know, there'd be
a lot. I don't think we're going to have tens
of thousands of applications. It sounds like there's more applications
(02:15):
than tickets. However, going through FIFA and the general ballot
with the whole world, there's a lot lower chance of tickets.
There was five times the applications to tickets back in
twenty twenty two, so that's a good chance because we're
a small country that we still get the same eight
percent that England do. But England have a big travel
club of fans that go and watch all the games
(02:36):
in between and earn points to get there. Ours is
literally you can jump on any hour and how it
will close I think later this evening. But New Zealand
Football just have an open form that you can fill
out in about twelve seconds with no cost, which means
that all keywisks can get in the ballot and have
a and have a good chance, which is great all right.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So that's not committing you to buying a ticket. That's
just saying, hey, I'm interested, I want to go into
the ballot, as you say, for one or more of
the seats in the eight percent allocation that New Zealand
Football get. Say, the odds see much better than competing
against the whole world, because I guess some people will
just just apply for tickets to any game, won't they
(03:14):
if they live in Los Angeles for example, I'll go
along to watch you know whoever's playing at so far stadium.
So let's come into the I mean, should New Zealand
fans enter both have a bit of chance or are
you is your suggestion the New Zealand football one. Really
first you.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Have to be careful applying for bolt both. So they
have what they call a household rule, which means that
if somebody has already applied through FEFA dot Com through
the general ballot, then they can't also apply through Newsland Football,
So that would get denied down the line through New
Zealand Football. So people need to be aware and very
careful of that. And yeah, it's up to them about
(03:53):
thinking how to how to do that and work their
way around that.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So your advice, I think for New Zealand people listening
is to go in the New Zealand football ballot. That
seems to be the highest id right to get take
to one or more of these games if they're thinking
of traveling. If they are successful in getting a ticket
in the New Zealand ballot, are all those seats together.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, so that's the good thing. Again I almost refer
to as the small soul of football left because the
rest it is literally out to you know, this high
prices the world market, and then they're legitimized scoping because
the official FIFA third party resale platform has no price
limit and FIFA will take thirty percent total, fifteen percent
off each they say to make it sound a little
(04:39):
bit nicer.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So people can buy a ticket. Anyone in the world
can buy a ticket and have no real intention of
going to the game and then put it on FIFA's
own ticket resale exchange platform and ask anything they like
for it.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah wow, yeah, ye, But yeah, in terms of the
New Zealand tickets within that, I'm not sure if the
rules change with that about transferring or selling, but yeah,
it would certainly. If you think of games in the
Premier League, for example, it's almost unsafe to turn up
in the wrong place with the wrong shirt on, or
(05:15):
even if you know you're a fan of the wrong team. Yeah,
you know when fans turn up in home ends because
it's easier to get a ticket, for example. So yeah,
that's something that we, I guess are aware of. And
there's a I guess a trust that he was wanting
to go.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Will there be a limit on the number of tickets
one person can buy to each game.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, so it's up to four tickets per per person
and forty tickets for the tournament. But I say that
with a big smile, because who's got that money on
their credit card to commit to those ticket prices times forty.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, let's talk about cost. There's been a lot of
chat in the last a little while about about the
cost of tickets that I don't think have been officially
unveiled yet, but there have seemed to have been a
number of news sources who have talked about ticket prices.
Groups are calling this a monumental betrayal by FIFA. The
price is just beyond the reach of many genuine fans.
(06:13):
How much do you have an indication matter how much
a ticket to watch New Zealand And a group match
at the World Cup will cost.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yes, and the general FIFA ballot. The pricings are there.
It's interesting that they vary by game based on the
predicted value I guess of largely the teams that are playing. Obviously,
so a Brazil game those higher prices I think, so Scotland,
I think at Brazil and the higher price level I
(06:40):
think is around seven or even eight hundred US up
to that high, whereas the New Zealand game on FIFA
dot Com on the general ballot, the lower cost looks
to be one forty to one eighty US. So the
Belgium game a little bit more expensive up to the
higher price point of four p fifty two five hundred
dollars US dollars.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Okay, so times what one point sixty one point seven
at the moment for New Zealand dollars they'reabouts not not
quite double, right, is that what we're talking?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah? Exactly?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Okay, So how does that compare to previous World Cups?
It seems a lot more expensive than previous World Cups,
and in fact a lot more expensive than what was
indicated when these three countries bid to host the World Cup.
I think they had to give an indicative idea of
what tickets might be, and they were talking about tickets
for twenty thirty dollars US.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, and that's It's disappointing, isn't it that that there
can be these bid documents. What is the point if
it can change this much? And I guess it is
a few years. It might be eight years or so
since those documents to win the rights, but yeah, what's
the point of the You can't value or trust what's
written on that piece of paper. And for future bidding processes, yeah,
(07:53):
that is tough to take.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
As we get closer to the games, will further tickets
be released back? I mean there's always tickets that don't
get picked up by sponsors, travel companies, whatever it is,
even international allocations. Will further tickets be released? Do you
think for these games? Closer to the games themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
There's usually a fourth phase, which is I think a
last minute they call it anyones that are left. I'm
not sure if they deliberately hold back a portion for those.
What's interesting and the process as well, is that there's
already been two phases before the draw, so that then,
as like you said earlier, someone who lives in the
host city can say that I want to go to
(08:34):
those games before they know the team. Sure, and we
were neutral fans in twenty fourteen, so we just went
for just random games and towns that we thought people
wouldn't go through as much and got games that way
and then found out later. So what's interesting is that
some people have gotten early for games and they've paid
higher than what those prices are now for the New
Zealand games. Is now that it's been drawn that it
(08:55):
might be New Zealand verse Iran that isn't the most
prolific game or most well known game in football, they've
paid more and so yeah, now they're actually cheaper now
that the teams are known.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Does that help us though? And that we are the
lowest ranked team at this tournament, you know, not a
high profile you know, as you say Iran, I want
to talk about Iran and Los Angeles in a minute actually,
but but you know, Iran, New Zealand on the face
of it isn't a high profile game, so there won't
be huge demand I guess globally for that game. So
does that help a traveling New Zealand fan or a
(09:30):
New Zealand fan looking for a ticket for that game
or for the game against Egypt for example.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
For sure, I think like we're in such a unique
position that yes, we're a small country, so our allocation
will serve far more of our people wants to go.
So that's why the you know, the messaging is so
important that people realize the New Zealand football ballot is
an option. If not FIFA dot Com you might be
placed anywhere in the stadium and then you would be
there and see that section of the key Weson be
(09:55):
a little lost tray one up there somewhere crying.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's that's the beauty of it, isn't it. You know,
that's the beauty of football fandom is being there with
others who are wearing the same colors as you, traveling away.
You've done this mat you know, You've been part of
the flying Kigwis and all sorts of places where often
there's just a little pocket of you. What is that
like in there supporting the all whites away from home
(10:17):
and a very small packet, a pocket of very passionate fans.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I'll give me ears on the back of my neck.
Actually when you explain it like that, because I think
sometimes it's misinterpreted that it's about safety and that animals
and they can't be separated, but it's actually about the
right to, like you've just described, enjoy the game together
and when you do that far from home, and for
New Zealand, we are the furthest from home. You know.
That's why I call us the most extreme away fans
in the world because the players are on the top
(10:43):
of those lists of the most traveled players. So our
fans for the World Cup, you know, are traveling the
biggest distances and live around the world. So yeah, when
you're able to do that, connected with the group and
you meet others, and when it's somewhere so Norway two
months ago. Now it was only a friendly but when
you get everyone there and you're staying in the same place,
there's a few days of breaking the ice, getting to
(11:05):
know each other. Yeah, it's what football is all about.
You're representing your people together in a land far far away.
It's a beautiful thing getting into the games.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
One thing, what about accommodation flights things like that, our
accommodation price is likely to be hiked up in and
around these games, in these venues.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
No, luckily people have been really fair and just kept
the same prices, and so it's going to be all good.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Wow, you almost kept a straight place.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
You almost kept us interview over. No, there's charts, isn't
there of how much people have hiked up the prices.
And it's it's tough, isn't it, Because it's in some
ways it's the world we live in. But we know
that it's on some level. It's not right to just
you know, put the prices up so much that it
(11:51):
tests people, or to get the maximum price for someone
that has something of value and to exploit it to
the nth degree is tough and can fee for a
part of this from from the start, so the control
of the major hotel chains and the host cities FIFA
and from the start control and that supply, so a
lot of them are locked up in big travel companies overseas.
(12:14):
That then that we were getting quotes earlier on in
the air for four hundred US a night, which is
obviously ridiculous, but now when you look more into it,
it almost seems cheaper. I think that's people having to
buy in before they know where their team's playing and
buy in blindly because these big companies have access to
all sixteen cities. So yeah, now you can. Now you
(12:35):
can pay for more if you want to.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Founder of the Flying Kiwis FC supporters group, Matt fee
Jos's and studio talking next year's FIFA World Cup and
supporting the all whites over in the United States, and
I guess sports fans here are used to travel packages
as well, you know, typically with rugby, for example, if
you want to go and follow the All Blacks on
the Northern tour, you buy a package which is flights, accommodation,
match tickets and everything you need. Are there official travel
(12:59):
providers who will be selling packages to kiwis you know,
which include flights, accommodation and match tickets as well.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, of course, and usually Football have a relationship with
House of Travel, so naturally they will be selling and
wanting people to jump on those. Like you're say, for
people that have the budget of like twenty thousand almost
SEMs cheap. Now for the total budget again when we
were looking at it early on in the year.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So that's so sorry, Matt. That's twenty grand per person
to get there and back and to all three games
with flights, accommodation and tickets.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's probably without international flights. Wow, early on and yeah
in the year when we're speaking to people that are
selling these things, so it could.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Be twenty five So it could be twenty five grand
per person that sort of thing, depending on where you're
coming from in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, which is wow, crazy money, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It is? It's just beyond the reach, isn't it of
so many people? You talk before about other countries they
have similar ballots, but I know the England IFA, for example,
as you alluded to before, it's based on how many
games you've been to in the World Cup cycle, so
they reward loyalty.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Exactly, and I believe in that a lot. We're slightly
different in New Zealand that because we're growing, you know.
I do believe that also there should be some percentage
of that available for any New Zealander, but I guess
it's almost twofold to England. Then, yeah, the percentage wise,
the top seventy percent of attendance I guess over the
(14:27):
previous two year cycle that guaranteed. So it means that
before well, as soon as those teams are drawn out
of the draw and as soon as the games are
allocated to cities, those fans who have earned their way
there by probably going to about fifteen games in the
last two years home and away, they know they'll get
a ticket because they've fulfilled the criteria, and they'll be
(14:49):
visible what their banding is, what points they have, and
how many people, so then they can start booking their
travel and accommodation and have a better chance of getting there.
The sad thing with that this time is that the
prices are so high and they go exponentially up. I
think a final ticket last time was six or seven
hundred in Qatar for the cheapest, and now it's three thousand,
(15:13):
three or four thousand pounds, So when you add up,
that's exponentially that it goes up through the tournament. Now,
if a fan from a big country wants to attend
all those games, they have to pay that money upfront,
which again I think Ballpark was about seven thousand pounds,
which is a crazy amount of money to go to
(15:34):
what is now eight football games. But they have to
pay it upfront, and then if their team doesn't make it,
if they got knocked out in the sixteen, they would
get a refund after the tournament minus ten dollars charge.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I think, wow. Well, I mean, because that's the other
thing too. New Zealand could get out of this group,
as you said before, So then then what happens We
find out who we're playing, but more importantly where we
are playing, and then just the process then start again.
You're going to ballot for those tickets for.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Example, there, Yeah, it's a really good question. There's there's
that ticket product. I just described that England fans would
likely want to hop on because if you're an England fan,
I guess it might just go for the pool, but
you know, ultimately you want to be there to win there,
which they talk about a lot after them in their
team exactly. But yeah, so this follow your team package,
(16:28):
even with the leasst prices. Half of our guys want
to to follow your team for the round of thirty two,
So apply for the four games and then yeah, when
it's No One, we would need one result, so one win.
In my eyes, I'm quite sure that three points would
be enough to be eight out of twelve top third place,
(16:50):
but then again there's just there's more complications and factors
where that game might be played. We're lucky we're from
a pool that the third place can only be in
two different cities and a second place would play the
first place of US and Australia's which would be incredible
to play either of them, but particularly Australia. For me,
that's like a dream, how good and I only imagine
(17:13):
in it as a knockout game.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Do you think some fans will go to the World
Cup without match tickets and hope to get them on
the ground.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, well, look, so some of our guys have have
bought flights and accommodation already. That's the as hard for
New Zealand, been our first time to get all our
ducks in a row and to have a full system
like England to measure these things. We're lucky that using
a football are supporting us with an allocation so that
you know, those dedicated fans who have traveled around the
(17:45):
world in the last sixteen years between World Cups can
have you know, some assurance. So, yeah, some fans have
already booked flights and accommodation and obviously they're that dedicated
that they'll find a way. It seems risky, but if
you compare that to waiting for match tickets and the
cost like you alluded to earlier, of flights and accommodation
(18:06):
are going to rise a lot more. That's a lot
higher price for the accommodation, So that's more likely to
rise a lot in the next six weeks or so.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And you talked about scalping before almost being legitimized through
the resale exchange platform, but will we still find scalpers
outside grounds with an open jacket and a pocket full
of tickets. Hey boys, what about these?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Yeah? I think it's slightly harder because the modern tickets
these days are NFC, so they're linked to your phone. Yes,
so I'm not sure if they're going to lock a
time period where you can't do that or if not
yet it might still be easy enough to do it
and you just forward in an email that they receive
(18:48):
in the link. It's then on their phone. But yeah,
like you said, they've legitimized it, so buying and selling
there'll be plenty of And.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I talked about demand not being necessarily that high for
the Whites against Iran and Los Angeles in the first game,
but doesn't Los Angeles have a massive Iranian population.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's incredible, isn't it? When that came out and you're thinking,
it's not possible. None of the pools had game at
all their games outside of US, so that's not possible
with the political situation with a run and the doubt
on their part that fans will be able to freely
enter without complications. Should we say so, then you think, oh,
(19:30):
that's the game in the US, then maybe we're in luck.
As an opponent, I would want it to be open
and fair. But yes, that's the key. We values that
they should be able to enjoy football. But yeah, when
you saw that were drawn there, it would be easy
to think, wouldn't it that great? They won't have many fans.
And then as you said, it turns out to many people.
It's actually called taranjalies to arrangelees however you would say
(19:50):
it because yeah, the biggest center for Iranian people outside
I run. So they say there's about half a million
Iranians or maybe American Iranians maybe second generation or whatever. Now,
so yeah, makes it very tough. So the FIFA dot
com ballot if you think that's is that similar population
(20:11):
to Wellington, isn't it depending on if it's a region
or city. So yeah, and they love football and they
travel well, so that's like imagining that. Yeah, we just
happen to have, you know, a World Cup game in
Wellington for New Zealand. That's what would be competing within
the FIFA dot com ballot or the yeah, the secondhand market.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
All right, Well to circle back to finish, then, anyone
listening to this who has any interest in even a
passing interest and being at one or more of these
games in June of next year. Your advice is to
is to go in the New Zealand football ballot. That's
your your best piece of advice.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah, for sure, And yeah, do that by by today,
so you're you're in with a chance through the New
Zealand footbaballot all.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Right in z football dot code audien z' is the website.
Just follow your nose. It's not hard to find. And
and sorry, Matt, just to clarify, that doesn't get you
a ticket that's in the ballots. So when will people
know that they that they have the opportunity to purchase tickets.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, so they are giving codes out next week. It
might be late next week, I believe. And then the
codes that they give to people, you're halfway there, shall
we say? So then you can go through to the
FIFA platform and submit your request and then in mid June,
I think it's until thirteenth of June. January, thirteenth of January. Yeah,
(21:36):
that then they can allocate them more or less.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Okay, so you should know by the end of January
whether you've got tickets or not.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, you're excited, excited, Yeah a lot. It's
been a pretty intense last week or so when those
prices were announced late. So I'm up late at night
getting feedback from our guys and yeah, it's been pretty
intense week. But yeah, like it's incredible to imagine like
you just described, not just in New Zealand overseas, playing
(22:05):
anywhere and friendly, but in the big stage in the
World Cup first time in sixteen years. Yeah, footballs come
a long way in this country on the pitch and
hopefully in the stands too, and hopefully we can show
that and enjoy it with the team.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Will do. People find you on socials, mate.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
So the Flying key is FC, I think is probably
the tag for most places. So Ye're pretty active on
Instagram and being pretty deliberate with updating snippets of this
info to help people along, So definitely connect there if
you're interested.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
The Flying kiwis FC on Insta and across other socials
as well. Matt, Great to see you, mate, Look, I
hope this leads to an absolutely tremendous couple of weeks
and maybe more in June. We'll look out for you
in the stands, mate. Thanks for popping in today.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Thanks for your support, paint appreciate it now.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I appreciate you coming in. Matt Matt Fijos, founder of
the Flying Kiwi's FC supporters group. There is the best
piece of advice in zed football dot co dot nz.
Sign up to the ballot today. It finishes, I think
the sign up process anyway, later on tonight you'll get
a code next week and then's your opportunity to apply
for tickets for the World Cup next year.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks at B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The All Whites twenty twenty six feet of World Cup
Paul play schedule has been confirmed. They'll play Iran in
Los Angeles and Egypt and Belgium in Vancouver. So how
easy or not are tickets to get and what will
they cost? Matt Fijos is the founder of the Flying
Kiwi's FC supporters group. He joins me in studio. Let's
(00:34):
start with the group. Matt, you're happy with the teams
that the All Whites have been drawn against.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, happy for us in terms of the teams that
there's one, of course, really strong team, but there's two
other games that you know, we can go in and
have a go at and you only need really by
my maths, I think three points will get you through
as one of the best place third, which is new
with the forty eight teams.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Indeed. All right, so how do traveling New Zealand football
fans access tickets to these games? A very broad question
to start with people listening they think about going. What's
the situation with getting tickets to these games?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Great? So generally the FIFA dot Com have a ballot
that anybody can enter from around the world. So that's
where a lot of this fear of loss drives people,
because they've already reported that they've had five million applications
within the first I think it was twenty four hours.
So that's for all fans from anywhere who for example,
if there's I don't know, a Brazil game or Argentina
(01:32):
or Spain or England, you know, there'll be fans from
around the world that would want to apply for them.
And this small piece of hope and soul in this
is about eight percent of sealable tickets which get the
allocation of them gets controlled by the member association by
the country that is playing, So for New Zealand, that's
(01:53):
New Zealand Football and I think that's one of the
most positive things here. And something that I've been planning
and thinking about for quite a while is that, you know,
four thousand fans from New Zealand roughly doing the maths
on that allocation seems like it, you know, there'd be
a lot. I don't think we're going to have tens
of thousands of applications. It sounds like there's more applications
(02:15):
than tickets. However, going through FIFA and the general ballot
with the whole world, there's a lot lower chance of tickets.
There was five times the applications to tickets back in
twenty twenty two, so that's a good chance because we're
a small country that we still get the same eight
percent that England do. But England have a big travel
club of fans that go and watch all the games
(02:36):
in between and earn points to get there. Ours is
literally you can jump on any hour and how it
will close I think later this evening. But New Zealand
Football just have an open form that you can fill
out in about twelve seconds with no cost, which means
that all keywisks can get in the ballot and have
a and have a good chance, which is great all right.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So that's not committing you to buying a ticket. That's
just saying, hey, I'm interested, I want to go into
the ballot, as you say, for one or more of
the seats in the eight percent allocation that New Zealand
Football get. Say, the odds see much better than competing
against the whole world, because I guess some people will
just just apply for tickets to any game, won't they
(03:14):
if they live in Los Angeles for example, I'll go
along to watch you know whoever's playing at so far stadium.
So let's come into the I mean, should New Zealand
fans enter both have a bit of chance or are
you is your suggestion the New Zealand football one. Really
first you.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Have to be careful applying for bolt both. So they
have what they call a household rule, which means that
if somebody has already applied through FEFA dot Com through
the general ballot, then they can't also apply through Newsland Football,
So that would get denied down the line through New
Zealand Football. So people need to be aware and very
careful of that. And yeah, it's up to them about
(03:53):
thinking how to how to do that and work their
way around that.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So your advice, I think for New Zealand people listening
is to go in the New Zealand football ballot. That
seems to be the highest id right to get take
to one or more of these games if they're thinking
of traveling. If they are successful in getting a ticket
in the New Zealand ballot, are all those seats together.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, so that's the good thing. Again I almost refer
to as the small soul of football left because the
rest it is literally out to you know, this high
prices the world market, and then they're legitimized scoping because
the official FIFA third party resale platform has no price
limit and FIFA will take thirty percent total, fifteen percent
off each they say to make it sound a little
(04:39):
bit nicer.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So people can buy a ticket. Anyone in the world
can buy a ticket and have no real intention of
going to the game and then put it on FIFA's
own ticket resale exchange platform and ask anything they like
for it.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah wow, yeah, ye, But yeah, in terms of the
New Zealand tickets within that, I'm not sure if the
rules change with that about transferring or selling, but yeah,
it would certainly. If you think of games in the
Premier League, for example, it's almost unsafe to turn up
in the wrong place with the wrong shirt on, or
(05:15):
even if you know you're a fan of the wrong team. Yeah,
you know when fans turn up in home ends because
it's easier to get a ticket, for example. So yeah,
that's something that we, I guess are aware of. And
there's a I guess a trust that he was wanting
to go.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Will there be a limit on the number of tickets
one person can buy to each game.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, so it's up to four tickets per per person
and forty tickets for the tournament. But I say that
with a big smile, because who's got that money on
their credit card to commit to those ticket prices times forty.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, let's talk about cost. There's been a lot of
chat in the last a little while about about the
cost of tickets that I don't think have been officially
unveiled yet, but there have seemed to have been a
number of news sources who have talked about ticket prices.
Groups are calling this a monumental betrayal by FIFA. The
price is just beyond the reach of many genuine fans.
(06:13):
How much do you have an indication matter how much
a ticket to watch New Zealand And a group match
at the World Cup will cost.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yes, and the general FIFA ballot. The pricings are there.
It's interesting that they vary by game based on the
predicted value I guess of largely the teams that are playing. Obviously,
so a Brazil game those higher prices I think, so Scotland,
I think at Brazil and the higher price level I
(06:40):
think is around seven or even eight hundred US up
to that high, whereas the New Zealand game on FIFA
dot Com on the general ballot, the lower cost looks
to be one forty to one eighty US. So the
Belgium game a little bit more expensive up to the
higher price point of four p fifty two five hundred
dollars US dollars.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Okay, so times what one point sixty one point seven
at the moment for New Zealand dollars they'reabouts not not
quite double, right, is that what we're talking?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah? Exactly?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Okay, So how does that compare to previous World Cups?
It seems a lot more expensive than previous World Cups,
and in fact a lot more expensive than what was
indicated when these three countries bid to host the World Cup.
I think they had to give an indicative idea of
what tickets might be, and they were talking about tickets
for twenty thirty dollars US.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, and that's It's disappointing, isn't it that that there
can be these bid documents. What is the point if
it can change this much? And I guess it is
a few years. It might be eight years or so
since those documents to win the rights, but yeah, what's
the point of the You can't value or trust what's
written on that piece of paper. And for future bidding processes, yeah,
(07:53):
that is tough to take.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
As we get closer to the games, will further tickets
be released back? I mean there's always tickets that don't
get picked up by sponsors, travel companies, whatever it is,
even international allocations. Will further tickets be released? Do you
think for these games? Closer to the games themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
There's usually a fourth phase, which is I think a
last minute they call it anyones that are left. I'm
not sure if they deliberately hold back a portion for those.
What's interesting and the process as well, is that there's
already been two phases before the draw, so that then,
as like you said earlier, someone who lives in the
host city can say that I want to go to
(08:34):
those games before they know the team. Sure, and we
were neutral fans in twenty fourteen, so we just went
for just random games and towns that we thought people
wouldn't go through as much and got games that way
and then found out later. So what's interesting is that
some people have gotten early for games and they've paid
higher than what those prices are now for the New
Zealand games. Is now that it's been drawn that it
(08:55):
might be New Zealand verse Iran that isn't the most
prolific game or most well known game in football, they've
paid more and so yeah, now they're actually cheaper now
that the teams are known.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Does that help us though? And that we are the
lowest ranked team at this tournament, you know, not a
high profile you know, as you say Iran, I want
to talk about Iran and Los Angeles in a minute actually,
but but you know, Iran, New Zealand on the face
of it isn't a high profile game, so there won't
be huge demand I guess globally for that game. So
does that help a traveling New Zealand fan or a
(09:30):
New Zealand fan looking for a ticket for that game
or for the game against Egypt for example.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
For sure, I think like we're in such a unique
position that yes, we're a small country, so our allocation
will serve far more of our people wants to go.
So that's why the you know, the messaging is so
important that people realize the New Zealand football ballot is
an option. If not FIFA dot Com you might be
placed anywhere in the stadium and then you would be
there and see that section of the key Weson be
(09:55):
a little lost tray one up there somewhere crying.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's that's the beauty of it, isn't it. You know,
that's the beauty of football fandom is being there with
others who are wearing the same colors as you, traveling away.
You've done this mat you know, You've been part of
the flying Kigwis and all sorts of places where often
there's just a little pocket of you. What is that
like in there supporting the all whites away from home
(10:17):
and a very small packet, a pocket of very passionate fans.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I'll give me ears on the back of my neck.
Actually when you explain it like that, because I think
sometimes it's misinterpreted that it's about safety and that animals
and they can't be separated, but it's actually about the
right to, like you've just described, enjoy the game together
and when you do that far from home, and for
New Zealand, we are the furthest from home. You know.
That's why I call us the most extreme away fans
in the world because the players are on the top
(10:43):
of those lists of the most traveled players. So our
fans for the World Cup, you know, are traveling the
biggest distances and live around the world. So yeah, when
you're able to do that, connected with the group and
you meet others, and when it's somewhere so Norway two
months ago. Now it was only a friendly but when
you get everyone there and you're staying in the same place,
there's a few days of breaking the ice, getting to
(11:05):
know each other. Yeah, it's what football is all about.
You're representing your people together in a land far far away.
It's a beautiful thing getting into the games.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
One thing, what about accommodation flights things like that, our
accommodation price is likely to be hiked up in and
around these games, in these venues.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
No, luckily people have been really fair and just kept
the same prices, and so it's going to be all good.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Wow, you almost kept a straight place.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
You almost kept us interview over. No, there's charts, isn't
there of how much people have hiked up the prices.
And it's it's tough, isn't it, Because it's in some
ways it's the world we live in. But we know
that it's on some level. It's not right to just
you know, put the prices up so much that it
(11:51):
tests people, or to get the maximum price for someone
that has something of value and to exploit it to
the nth degree is tough and can fee for a
part of this from from the start, so the control
of the major hotel chains and the host cities FIFA
and from the start control and that supply, so a
lot of them are locked up in big travel companies overseas.
(12:14):
That then that we were getting quotes earlier on in
the air for four hundred US a night, which is
obviously ridiculous, but now when you look more into it,
it almost seems cheaper. I think that's people having to
buy in before they know where their team's playing and
buy in blindly because these big companies have access to
all sixteen cities. So yeah, now you can. Now you
(12:35):
can pay for more if you want to.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Founder of the Flying Kiwis FC supporters group, Matt fee
Jos's and studio talking next year's FIFA World Cup and
supporting the all whites over in the United States, and
I guess sports fans here are used to travel packages
as well, you know, typically with rugby, for example, if
you want to go and follow the All Blacks on
the Northern tour, you buy a package which is flights, accommodation,
match tickets and everything you need. Are there official travel
(12:59):
providers who will be selling packages to kiwis you know,
which include flights, accommodation and match tickets as well.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, of course, and usually Football have a relationship with
House of Travel, so naturally they will be selling and
wanting people to jump on those. Like you're say, for
people that have the budget of like twenty thousand almost
SEMs cheap. Now for the total budget again when we
were looking at it early on in the year.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So that's so sorry, Matt. That's twenty grand per person
to get there and back and to all three games
with flights, accommodation and tickets.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's probably without international flights. Wow, early on and yeah
in the year when we're speaking to people that are
selling these things, so it could.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Be twenty five So it could be twenty five grand
per person that sort of thing, depending on where you're
coming from in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, which is wow, crazy money, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It is? It's just beyond the reach, isn't it of
so many people? You talk before about other countries they
have similar ballots, but I know the England IFA, for example,
as you alluded to before, it's based on how many
games you've been to in the World Cup cycle, so
they reward loyalty.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Exactly, and I believe in that a lot. We're slightly
different in New Zealand that because we're growing, you know.
I do believe that also there should be some percentage
of that available for any New Zealander, but I guess
it's almost twofold to England. Then, yeah, the percentage wise,
the top seventy percent of attendance I guess over the
(14:27):
previous two year cycle that guaranteed. So it means that
before well, as soon as those teams are drawn out
of the draw and as soon as the games are
allocated to cities, those fans who have earned their way
there by probably going to about fifteen games in the
last two years home and away, they know they'll get
a ticket because they've fulfilled the criteria, and they'll be
(14:49):
visible what their banding is, what points they have, and
how many people, so then they can start booking their
travel and accommodation and have a better chance of getting there.
The sad thing with that this time is that the
prices are so high and they go exponentially up. I
think a final ticket last time was six or seven
hundred in Qatar for the cheapest, and now it's three thousand,
(15:13):
three or four thousand pounds, So when you add up,
that's exponentially that it goes up through the tournament. Now,
if a fan from a big country wants to attend
all those games, they have to pay that money upfront,
which again I think Ballpark was about seven thousand pounds,
which is a crazy amount of money to go to
(15:34):
what is now eight football games. But they have to
pay it upfront, and then if their team doesn't make it,
if they got knocked out in the sixteen, they would
get a refund after the tournament minus ten dollars charge.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I think, wow. Well, I mean, because that's the other
thing too. New Zealand could get out of this group,
as you said before, So then then what happens We
find out who we're playing, but more importantly where we
are playing, and then just the process then start again.
You're going to ballot for those tickets for.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Example, there, Yeah, it's a really good question. There's there's
that ticket product. I just described that England fans would
likely want to hop on because if you're an England fan,
I guess it might just go for the pool, but
you know, ultimately you want to be there to win there,
which they talk about a lot after them in their
team exactly. But yeah, so this follow your team package,
(16:28):
even with the leasst prices. Half of our guys want
to to follow your team for the round of thirty two,
So apply for the four games and then yeah, when
it's No One, we would need one result, so one win.
In my eyes, I'm quite sure that three points would
be enough to be eight out of twelve top third place,
(16:50):
but then again there's just there's more complications and factors
where that game might be played. We're lucky we're from
a pool that the third place can only be in
two different cities and a second place would play the
first place of US and Australia's which would be incredible
to play either of them, but particularly Australia. For me,
that's like a dream, how good and I only imagine
(17:13):
in it as a knockout game.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Do you think some fans will go to the World
Cup without match tickets and hope to get them on
the ground.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, well, look, so some of our guys have have
bought flights and accommodation already. That's the as hard for
New Zealand, been our first time to get all our
ducks in a row and to have a full system
like England to measure these things. We're lucky that using
a football are supporting us with an allocation so that
you know, those dedicated fans who have traveled around the
(17:45):
world in the last sixteen years between World Cups can
have you know, some assurance. So, yeah, some fans have
already booked flights and accommodation and obviously they're that dedicated
that they'll find a way. It seems risky, but if
you compare that to waiting for match tickets and the
cost like you alluded to earlier, of flights and accommodation
(18:06):
are going to rise a lot more. That's a lot
higher price for the accommodation, So that's more likely to
rise a lot in the next six weeks or so.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And you talked about scalping before almost being legitimized through
the resale exchange platform, but will we still find scalpers
outside grounds with an open jacket and a pocket full
of tickets. Hey boys, what about these?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Yeah? I think it's slightly harder because the modern tickets
these days are NFC, so they're linked to your phone. Yes,
so I'm not sure if they're going to lock a
time period where you can't do that or if not
yet it might still be easy enough to do it
and you just forward in an email that they receive
(18:48):
in the link. It's then on their phone. But yeah,
like you said, they've legitimized it, so buying and selling
there'll be plenty of And.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I talked about demand not being necessarily that high for
the Whites against Iran and Los Angeles in the first game,
but doesn't Los Angeles have a massive Iranian population.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's incredible, isn't it? When that came out and you're thinking,
it's not possible. None of the pools had game at
all their games outside of US, so that's not possible
with the political situation with a run and the doubt
on their part that fans will be able to freely
enter without complications. Should we say so, then you think, oh,
(19:30):
that's the game in the US, then maybe we're in luck.
As an opponent, I would want it to be open
and fair. But yes, that's the key. We values that
they should be able to enjoy football. But yeah, when
you saw that were drawn there, it would be easy
to think, wouldn't it that great? They won't have many fans.
And then as you said, it turns out to many people.
It's actually called taranjalies to arrangelees however you would say
(19:50):
it because yeah, the biggest center for Iranian people outside
I run. So they say there's about half a million
Iranians or maybe American Iranians maybe second generation or whatever. Now,
so yeah, makes it very tough. So the FIFA dot
com ballot if you think that's is that similar population
(20:11):
to Wellington, isn't it depending on if it's a region
or city. So yeah, and they love football and they
travel well, so that's like imagining that. Yeah, we just
happen to have, you know, a World Cup game in
Wellington for New Zealand. That's what would be competing within
the FIFA dot com ballot or the yeah, the secondhand market.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
All right, Well to circle back to finish, then, anyone
listening to this who has any interest in even a
passing interest and being at one or more of these
games in June of next year. Your advice is to
is to go in the New Zealand football ballot. That's
your your best piece of advice.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah, for sure, And yeah, do that by by today,
so you're you're in with a chance through the New
Zealand footbaballot all.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Right in z football dot code audien z' is the website.
Just follow your nose. It's not hard to find. And
and sorry, Matt, just to clarify, that doesn't get you
a ticket that's in the ballots. So when will people
know that they that they have the opportunity to purchase tickets.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, so they are giving codes out next week. It
might be late next week, I believe. And then the
codes that they give to people, you're halfway there, shall
we say? So then you can go through to the
FIFA platform and submit your request and then in mid June,
I think it's until thirteenth of June. January, thirteenth of January. Yeah,
(21:36):
that then they can allocate them more or less.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Okay, so you should know by the end of January
whether you've got tickets or not.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, you're excited, excited, Yeah a lot. It's
been a pretty intense last week or so when those
prices were announced late. So I'm up late at night
getting feedback from our guys and yeah, it's been pretty
intense week. But yeah, like it's incredible to imagine like
you just described, not just in New Zealand overseas, playing
(22:05):
anywhere and friendly, but in the big stage in the
World Cup first time in sixteen years. Yeah, footballs come
a long way in this country on the pitch and
hopefully in the stands too, and hopefully we can show
that and enjoy it with the team.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Will do. People find you on socials, mate.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
So the Flying key is FC, I think is probably
the tag for most places. So Ye're pretty active on
Instagram and being pretty deliberate with updating snippets of this
info to help people along, So definitely connect there if
you're interested.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
The Flying kiwis FC on Insta and across other socials
as well. Matt, Great to see you, mate, Look, I
hope this leads to an absolutely tremendous couple of weeks
and maybe more in June. We'll look out for you
in the stands, mate. Thanks for popping in today.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Thanks for your support, paint appreciate it now.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I appreciate you coming in. Matt Matt Fijos, founder of
the Flying Kiwi's FC supporters group. There is the best
piece of advice in zed football dot co dot nz.
Sign up to the ballot today. It finishes, I think
the sign up process anyway, later on tonight you'll get
a code next week and then's your opportunity to apply
for tickets for the World Cup next year.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks at B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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