Football fever has reached new heights ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, with ticket prices soaring to unprecedented levels as Argentina prepare to take on Spain on Sunday night.
The highly anticipated final, scheduled to kick off at 1:00am Bangladesh time on Monday, has triggered extraordinary demand, pushing resale ticket prices to as high as Tk 3.456 million for a single seat.
According to ticket marketplace data, the cheapest available ticket is selling for around Tk 900,000, while the average resale price has climbed to nearly Tk 1.6 million, making it one of the most expensive football matches ever for spectators.
The most expensive ticket currently available has been listed at approximately Tk 3.465 million, with prices expected to rise further as kick-off approaches.
The report said the average ticket price for the final has already surpassed previous records for football matches held in the United States. Before the World Cup final, the country's most expensive sporting event was the 2024 Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, where the average ticket price stood at around Tk 900,000.
The intense excitement surrounding the final is being fuelled by the prospect of a showdown between Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Messi, now 39, and 19-year-old Yamal both celebrated their birthdays during the World Cup, adding another layer of intrigue to the title clash.
Ahead of the final, Messi was asked about the famous photograph taken in 2007 in which he appeared with Yamal as a baby.
"It's an incredible photo," Messi said. "I have a few pictures with him when he was a child. Now we're both playing in a World Cup. It's unbelievable."
The Argentine captain also praised the young Spaniard, describing him as one of the world's finest footballers.
"Lamine is already among the best players in the world," Messi said. "I wish him all the best because his success is also Barcelona's success. But in the final, we'll try to make sure he can't play at his best. Not only him, Spain have an outstanding team, but we also have our own strengths."
Messi added that Yamal has a long and successful career ahead of him.
"He's an extraordinary player and only 19 years old. I wish him every success in the future. But this time, we'll give everything to make sure he doesn't win the World Cup."
The final is expected to attract a global television audience of hundreds of millions, while demand for tickets continues to surge as fans scramble for a chance to witness football's biggest match.
