MIAMI — The first FIFA World Cup match to be played in Miami is now just one day away, and the arrivals are already starting.
Local 10 News’ Trent Kelly was inside Terminal J at Miami International Airport Sunday morning, where the international arrivals come through, and there were several futbol fanatics from overseas arriving.
Airport officials said they are expecting a slight uptick in travel this weekend and into Monday, as soccer fans from around the world fly in for the tournament.
Monday’s first South Florida match will feature Uruguay battling Saudi Arabia in a crucial group stage showdown.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Soccer fans, media members, and team supporters have been arriving from across the globe.
Uruguay enters the tournament as a two-time World Cup champion while Saudi Arabia is hoping to recapture some of the magic from its stunning upset of Argentina during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For fans hoping to see the action in person, tickets are still available, but they aren’t cheap.
“It was very expensive, the tickets,” said Fernando Nin, who arrived from Uruguay. “It’s like around $500 for us, but worth it.”
As of Sunday morning, resale tickets were starting between $500 and $600 for seats in the upper level of Miami Stadium, the re-branded name of Hard Rock Stadium for the duration of the tournament, while lower-level seats were selling between $800 and $1,500.
“It’s very expensive,” said Atan Sobol from Argentina. “We were in Qatar for the first match, but I paid the same for four or five matches in Qatar. But Argentinians are patient. Patience is more important than the money.”
Monday’s match will be the first of seven World Cup games scheduled for South Florida, including games in the round of 32, a quarterfinal and the bronze medal match.
“This is the first time here in Miami with the futbol, so we are going to see how the people of USA react for us,” said Sobol.
For Maria Morales from Colombia, her father snagged tickets to multiple games in different cities for her 15th birthday.
“To Mexico vs. Uzbekistan and then coming back to see Portugal vs. Colombia,” she said. “I always wanted to go to the World Cup and this was the opportunity and my first time in Miami.”
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