Ticket prices slashed to ₹199 for India‑Uruguay friendly in Kolkata

Ticket prices for the India‑Uruguay friendly at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan have been cut to ₹199, a roughly 90 % discount. The discount applies to Block C2 right and Block C2 left, which were priced at ₹1,999 until Sunday morning. The move follows criticism over the cost of tickets for India’s recent high‑profile friendly against Brazil, where only about 51,000 spectators turned up in a 68,000‑seat stadium despite a star‑studded Brazil lineup. India had earlier faced Panama in Bengaluru as part of its preparation for the Brazil and Uruguay matches. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Saturday that free tickets will be given to the roughly 22,000 fans who missed Lionel Messi’s chaotic visit to Kolkata last year. He said a WhatsApp number will be shared for ticket collection on 6 October. Sports Minister Dr Indranil Khan echoed the offer on X, calling it a goodwill gesture for those who bought Messi‑tour tickets on 13 December 2025. Physical passes can be collected on 5 October between 11 am and 5 pm on presentation of a valid government photo ID and the previous paid ticket. The India‑Uruguay friendly is scheduled for 6 October 2026 at the VYBK Stadium. ## Context The government’s free‑ticket scheme aims to boost attendance after the Brazil match saw many empty seats, a common challenge for big‑ticket events in Indian football.