How to Land Tickets for Argentina v Australia

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Sports aficionados eagerly awaiting the highly anticipated match between Argentina and Australia were thrilled to learn that the dates for ticket sales have been released: Ticket sales have been divided into two separate time slots. The first batch will be available for purchase starting at 1pm, Monday Jun 5, and a second wave is scheduled to commence at 1pm, Thursday Jun 8.

However, Chinese fans' immense love for Mr. Messi has created a huge demand for tickets, which means it could be a sell-out.

According to sports expert Mark Dreyer, securing a spot requires being ready as soon as ticket sales begin.

"From my experience, getting tickets can be frustrating, and you may often leave empty-handed," Dreyer cautioned.

Indeed, we only need to go back to last month to see how quickly tickets to popular events in Beijing can be snapped up via online ticketing platforms: the pop band May Day saw 100 percent of its tickets for shows at the Bird's Nest stadium sell out in seconds.

If you want to try your luck, tickets will go on sale via the WeChat mini-program 票星球 Piàoxīngqiú, you can scan the QR code below to access it:

For those who are unable to secure tickets through the official platform, alternative online options like 咸鱼 Xiányú and 小红书 Xiǎohóngshū may look tempting. However, it's crucial to remember that selling tickets via these platforms is technically unauthorized and illegal, as confirmed by the promoter, which has appointed Piaoxingqiu as the sole channel for ticket purchases. Consequently, fans seeking tickets from non-official sources should exercise caution when exploring these alternative channels.

Tickets are already being offered on various platforms, such as Xianyu above; be weary of these as none are official

Dreyer explains that when purchasing a ticket, you must input your ID, which then serves as a verification method upon entering the stadium.

This means that tickets bought through unofficial platforms may not be verifiable, as they are not directly linked to the ticket holder's ID.

Those seeking alternative means to acquire tickets are at risk of being denied entry because their ID does not match the one connected to the ticket purchase.

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One fan of Guo'an Football Club (which calls Gongti its home) said that normally IDs are not checked upon entry to games; however the intense demand for the high-profile Argentina-Australia match could make entry protocol more strict.

"This event is more about Messi's personal farewell tour," Dreyer explained. "The excitement surrounding the occasion is palpable, and the ticket prices are undeniably steep," he said.

Technically, you are not even allowed to gift a ticket to someone else. According to Piaoxingqiu, ticket transfer is explicitly prohibited. In case individuals cannot attend, they can only choose to return the ticket to the platform by the stated deadline of noon on Jun 12. A refund will be issued minus a 20 percent service charge.

Though prohibited, fans could also take their chance scoring tickets from scalpers outside the stadium the day of the match. This also is not strictly legal, and if the event is a sell-out, prices for these last-minute tickets could be astronomical.

Brand new Gongti Stadium plays host

There is one way around this ticketing mess, and that is via good old guanxi.

Dreyer said that often the priciest tickets are given or sold in bulk to sponsors and other special interest groups. These tickets typically do not have a specific ID associated with them, and thus can be used by anyone without fear of reprisal. Now on to your WeChat contact list to see who you know that might have access...

All signs are pointing to this being an expensive match to attend. The most affordable option already starts at the tidy sum of RMB 580.

RMB 580 gets you nosebleed seats

The next cheapest seats after the RMB 580 level is more than double -- RMB 1,380 -- with the steepest seats going for RMB 4,800. Brandon, a sports enthusiast that has been to many a match at Gongti, says the most affordable tickets are typically the first to sell out. "I'd be surprised if the match sells out, given the astronomical prices, but the least expensive tickets will undoubtedly be snatched up quickly," he remarked.

"It's possible that when someone is caught up in the excitement and can't secure the cheapest ticket," Dreyer added. "They might go well beyond their budget and end up purchasing a ticket for RMB 2,800. Time will tell how much pulling power Mr. Messi truly has."

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Images: 中赫工体, Weibo

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