England fans desperate to cheer on the Lionesses on Sunday can still snap up flights to the other side of the world, as time ticks down on the chance for supporters to be in Stadium Australia, Sydney in time for kick-off.
While the match against Spain is sold out for standard tickets, hospitality suites, coming in at £600 per person, are still available. Re-sale tickets via the FIFA website could also be an option for fans looking for cheaper options.
There are still flights available to get to Sydney in time for the 8pm kick-off for fans prepared to laugh in the face of jet lag.
A 9:10pm British Airways flight leaving Heathrow on Friday evening gets fans to Sydney around 5am on Sunday morning, leaving time for a little R&R before the first ball is kicked – although there are currently just a few seats left onboard.
Tempted? As of Friday, it’s still possible to make it to Stadium Australia from the UK in time for the Lionesses World Cup Final against Spain
A return flight bringing fans back in a week’s time currently costs £3,414. Add in hotel costs and it’s easily a £5,000 return trip.
However, there are cheaper flight options available: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific also have flights leaving today that come in at under £2,000 for a return ticket – and land on Sunday morning local time.
According to Google search data this week, ‘flights to Australia’ have rocketed by 179 per cent since the England team defeated the Matildas 3-1 on Wednesday.
One football fan definitely not making the journey Down Under is Prince William, despite pressure from a former sports minister who has said the royal should ‘be there’.
While resale tickets are scarce for standard price tickets, hospitality suite tickets are still available for $AUD1,318 as of Friday – around £600
England’s Lionesses booked their place in the World Cup final against Spain with a famous victory over Australia on Wednesday
Kensington Palace confirmed earlier this week that the Prince of Wales, who is president of the Football Association and therefore responsible for promoting the game nationally and internationally, would not be making the trip Down Under.
He will instead be roaring on the Lionesses – who are representing England in its first World Cup final since 1966 – from home, as will Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who will also not be in attendance for Sunday’s clash with Spain.
Gerry Sutcliffe, who served as sports minister under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010, told The Telegraph: ‘I think the Prince of Wales should be there.
‘I know it’s a long way and I’m sure he has family commitments, but this is a unique moment, it’s the World Cup final.’
Kensington Palace confirmed earlier this week that the Prince of Wales, who is president of the Football Association and therefore responsible for promoting the game nationally and internationally, would not be making the trip Down Under
Labour MP Kate Osborne told Times Radio: ‘We all know that if this was the men’s final, Sunak, and the FA president, Prince William, would be in attendance no matter how long the flight to Australia is.’
Neither William nor Mr Sunak attended any of the England men’s World Cup games in Qatar last winter.
However, the row was intensified when the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed that Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, will be in Sydney, ‘to show, once again, the royal household’s support for national football’.
The pair will sit in the presidential box at the Accor Stadium, but won’t be joined by King Felipe, who is busy with other official duties.
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