Women’s World Cup food prices raise eyebrows among fans

The thousands of fans heading to watch the Women’s World Cup may want to consider eating before leaving the house after some exxy pricing was revealed.

Fans heading to a game at the FIFA Women’s World Cup may want to consider eating beforehand or packing some snacks to avoid paying stadium food prices.

Food offerings at the Sydney Football Stadium, in Sydney’s Moore Park, have been spotlighted this week over how expensive they are.

It’s one of several venues across Australia and New Zealand hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and on Tuesday hosted the Colombia vs. Korea Republic game.

The priciest item on the menu is a $65.50 “chook pack”, while a “snack pack” costs just slightly less at $57.

The third most expensive item was what tipped one fan over the edge on Twitter, with them highlighting the “bucket of chicken for 44 bucks”.

In what has caused division among fans, hospitality group Merivale has taken over all catering and beverage services at both the Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“This is what happens when Merivale partners with the SCG/SFS for hospitality. Over inflated prices for average food. Will be like this until September 2027,” one response to the tweet read, referencing Merivale’s six-year contract.

Fans watching the Women’s World Cup in Sydney have been hit with expensive food prices. Picture: Twitter/M1D3V

Others were less offended by what was on offer.

“To be fair, before the WWC, I thought Merivale had been great at the stadium. Re food and pricing,” the man behind the original post wrote.

“I think the food offered for a stadium is exceptional in terms of quality, but pricing vs. portion is skewed,” someone else said.

Elsewhere on the menu was popcorn chicken and chips for $23, buffalo wings for $21, crispy fried chicken wings for $16.50, and most shockingly, additional sauce for $2.

“It should be law that these can only be sold for 20c and should be included when you’re paying $16.50 for some battered f***ing cauliflower. The sauce is a humanitarian addition to make it palatable. Where’s the UN?” one person wrote of the pricey packet.

Double sausage at Norway v Switzerland at the Waikato stadium for the Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC)

🇳🇿 $20 NZD (£9.50) pic.twitter.com/63wsmYh0LL

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) July 25, 2023

Separate page, Footy Scran, which rates food sold at football games, shared a fan’s rating for a meal served at a game held at Stadium Australia.

For pork belly tacos and corn chips with guacamole and salsa they paid $27, which they awarded a perfect 10/10 score.

At the Norway vs. Switzerland game held at Waikato Stadium in New Zealand, a $18.35 sausage sizzle attracted attention online after it was served with two sausages.

Dozens of fans threw their support behind the catering decision after Footy Scran asked whether more than one sausage was too much.

Originally published as Women’s World Cup food prices raise eyebrows among fans