High Price Tag for World Cup Attendance
For numerous football enthusiasts, the opportunity to attend the World Cup is considered an invaluable, singular event. However, a closer look at the expenses reveals significant financial outlays. The cumulative cost of match tickets, flights, hotel stays, stadium transportation, and even refreshments inside the venues can rapidly escalate.
As the tournament progresses, fans from the host nations of Mexico, Canada, and the United States have shared their expenditures with the BBC, highlighting the substantial sums involved.
Thousands Spent on Single Matches
Morten Oftedal, a Norwegian expatriate residing in Atlanta, Georgia, exemplifies the commitment to a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience. With Norway qualifying for the first time in 28 years, Oftedal saw this summer as potentially his 82-year-old father's only chance to witness their national team play in the World Cup. He secured three tickets for the Norway vs. Iraq match in Massachusetts at $380 each. His round-trip flights from Atlanta to Boston for three people cost 180,000 frequent flyer points, while a two-night hotel stay exceeded $1,100. Additionally, stadium transport will add $80 per person for a round trip. In total, Oftedal expects to spend approximately $4,000 in cash and points for himself, his father, and his wife to attend a single game, a sum he described as "insane."
Similarly, Iain Bagwell, a 58-year-old British resident of Atlanta, paid approximately $1,200 per Category 2 ticket to see England play Croatia in Dallas, Texas, with his son. He initially considered the price "daylight robbery" but later viewed it more favorably given the circumstances. To manage costs, Bagwell and his son plan to camp during their road trip to Dallas. Following the England match, they will travel to Kansas City to watch Tunisia vs. Netherlands, having paid $235 per ticket for that game.
International Fans Face Sticker Shock
For visitors from other countries, the expenses associated with the 2026 World Cup have often come as a surprise. Alisa and Admir Maric, who traveled from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Toronto to watch their team play Canada, described their trip as costly but ultimately rewarding. They purchased last-minute tickets for CAD$1,250 (approximately US$890) each for third-row seats. Their hotel cost around $600 per night, and flights were $1,150 per person, bringing their total trip cost to about CAD$5,400.
Sisters Aida and Emina Tucic, also Bosnian and Herzegovinian supporters from Hamilton, Ontario, acquired their tickets three days before the game for CAD$1,200 each. While acknowledging the high price, Aida stated that football "should be accessible to the fans" but ultimately considered the experience "priceless." Emina echoed this sentiment, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to see both countries they love play on the world stage.
Mexican Fans Grapple with Affordability
In Mexico City, the high cost of World Cup tickets made attending matches an impossibility for many, especially in a nation where an estimated 30% of the population lives in poverty. Prices for the opening game at the Azteca Stadium ranged from the equivalent of USD$1,500 to over $4,000 for a single ticket. Aaron Vieyra, a member of the Mexican national team fans group Furia Azteca, purchased two tickets for himself and his girlfriend at 30,000 pesos (approximately $1,750) each. He noted that one ticket alone was comparable to three months' rent for many Mexico City residents. Despite the cost, Vieyra found the historic game at the Azteca Stadium "worth it, but only just," emphasizing that he wouldn't have spent that much if he also had to cover flight and hotel expenses.
Additional Expenses and Mitigation Efforts
Beyond tickets, other costs contribute significantly to the overall expense. Food and drink prices inside stadiums vary, with a 16oz American beer at the New York New Jersey (NYNJ) Stadium costing $16, and water at $5. In contrast, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta offers a small 12oz American beer for $5 and water for $3. Transportation costs can also be inflated; a train ticket from New York City's Penn Station to the NYNJ Stadium for a World Cup match costs $98, a substantial increase from its usual price of $12.90. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated this increase was to prevent locals from bearing the cost of fan transportation, and that FIFA is not contributing to the $48 million transit expenses.
Local officials have attempted to negotiate with FIFA to reduce costs for average fans. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured 1,000 $50 tickets for residents through a lottery. The Canadian province of Ontario passed the Putting Fans First Act to regulate resale prices, and Dallas will offer complimentary transport to and from its stadium.
Despite the prevailing headlines about the high costs, the fans interviewed by the BBC remained largely enthusiastic, often concluding that the memorable experience made the prices worthwhile. Oftedal, the Norwegian fan, summarized this sentiment, stating that creating memories with his father was paramount and that "the (worry about) money goes away after a while."
Source: 'Daylight robbery but worth it' - what fans are spending