Expert predicts additional price rises for World Cup travel after Iranian conflict

Record ID: 2367880

  • Title: Expert predicts additional price rises for World Cup travel after Iranian conflict
  • Date: 19th March 2026
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 19, 2026) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) AVIATION AND TOURISM EXPERT ANITA MENDIRATTA, SAYING: "But when we look at the World Cup, fans coming from, for instance, and teams coming from Europe and the UK, it won't be an issue because there are direct routes in. If you're coming, however, from Asia and Africa, that's where they're goin
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Donald Trump Gianni Infantino Iran Travel World Cup ticket prices
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: UK
  • Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA007567819032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Soccer fans heading to the World Cup this summer can expect to pay considerably more for flights and will face possible delays, cancellation and disruption because of the current Iran crisis, an industry expert has warned.
    Aviation and tourism specialist Anita Mendiratta, who previously advised South Africa on hosting the 2010 tournament, said prices could rise by 30% on top of a similar World Cup premium supporters were already paying.
    The United States and Israel having attacking Iran from the air for the nearly three weeks after talks over Iran's nuclear programme came to nothing. 
    Iran has responded by hitting critical infrastructure across the Gulf and Israel, including energy facilities, while also limiting tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz.
    Jet fuel prices have spiked, pushing up operating costs for airlines, with European prices doubling and Asian prices up almost 80% since late February.
    Speaking to Reuters in London on Thursday (March 19), Mendiratta said although the World Cup is still three months away, it is inevitable there will be an impact on the competition, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
    “We always know that with the World Cup, for instance, that there's going to be increases in particularly domestic travel costs, because airlines will bump their seats up between 30 and 70%,” she said.
    “That happens all the time, which is a great shame, but the demand is there. Add on top of that now the cost for increased flights because of the fuel, and we have an additional element. So international travel, we expect travel to go up 30% because of the shortage and the fuel costs, but then when you look at the actual World Cup tickets, we'd expect another 30% on top of that.”
    She also warned supporters travelling from Asia and Africa would face considerably more disruption than those arriving from Europe.
    “If you're coming, however, from Asia and Africa, that's where they're going to get stung because… the easiest way to travel is through the Middle Eastern corridor,” she said.
    “So for people who are trying to cross over, whether it's people on the teams or their fan base, they're going to have to look at alternatives. And alternatives mean diversions. That means increased cost and increased time to travel.”
    As well as advising the United Nations, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), Mendiratta also worked with the organisers of the Qatar World Cup (2022) and is advising Morocco (2030) and Saudi Arabia (2034) ahead of their hosting duties.
    (Production: Iain Axon, Gerhard Mey, Joseph Andrews)
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