Sports

Cost of the 2026 World Cup: How much Americans will spend in host cities

By Pam O’Brien for SoFi Stacker

Updated June 2, 2026 4:56 PM

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted by the United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament is held across three nations. The tournament runs in June and July 2026, with 11 of the 16 host cities located in the U.S. For devoted fans who have been counting down the months, the excitement of the 2026 World Cup may only be rivaled by its eye-opening cost.

Millions of Americans are expected to attend, and many will travel to do so. That means not only will they be purchasing tickets, but they'll also be spending on airfare, lodging, and food, for a grand total of anywhere from around $3,300 to $7,500 (or more) per person.

To find out what Americans will spend in each of the host cities, SoFi did a deep dive into the latest data. The estimated total cost for each of the 11 host cities in the U.S. is based on an analysis conducted on April 10, 2026. Prices include one ticket purchased on a resale marketplace, a two-night hotel stay, travel, food/drink, tourist activities, and an official team jersey. (FYI, because of FIFA's dynamic pricing, costs for tickets can change hourly, daily, etc.) Here's what fans can expect to pay to attend the 2026 World Cup.

Key Points

The average total cost of attendance at the 2026 World Cup across all 11 U.S. host cities is approximately $5,440 per person.
The most expensive city for the World Cup is Boston, with a total cost of $7,589, and the least expensive is Seattle, with a total cost of $3,287.
Ticket prices for the World Cup start at about $400 a match and go for as much as $10,990 for the final match on July 19.
Hotel prices in North American host cities increased by an average of 328% during the 2026 World Cup compared to prices three weeks earlier, according to one analysis.
The 2026 World Cup is projected to generate $17.2 billion in economic activity across the United States and create approximately 184,000 jobs, many of them temporary.

How Much Will Americans Spend on the 2026 World Cup?

If you're planning on attending the 2026 World Cup, get ready to dip into your savings account. The average total cost of the World Cup across all U.S. host cities - including one ticket, travel, lodging for two nights, sightseeing, and food - is approximately $5,440.

Why is the cost to attend the 2026 World Cup so high? There are a number of reasons, including:

Dynamic pricing: For the first time, FIFA is using a "dynamic" (variable) pricing model for some ticket sales, meaning prices increase automatically as demand surges.
High demand/low supply: Tremendous demand for tickets to the matches far outweighs inventory, driving up costs for limited seating.
Secondary markets: Limited availability forces many fans toward resale marketplaces, where tickets are often listed at substantial markups.
Tiered match value: Prices are significantly higher for high-demand matchups and premier knockout rounds, such as the semi-finals and the final.
Accommodation surges: Hotel rates have spiked significantly. An analysis by The Athletic noted that prices in host cities increased by over 300% compared to their standard rates.
Rising airfares: The cost to fly to host cities across North America has increased due to increased demand and surging fuel prices.

Total Cost Differences by City

The cost of attending the 2026 World Cup can vary by thousands of dollars depending on the city. Here is the estimated total cost for each of the 11 host cities in the U.S. based on a SoFi analysis conducted on April 10, 2026. Prices include one ticket purchased on a resale marketplace, a two-night hotel stay, travel, food/drink, tourist activities, and an official team jersey.

Boston: $7,589
Philadelphia: $6,965
Los Angeles: $6,197
Miami: $5,992
San Francisco: $5,672
Atlanta: $5,461
Houston: $5,366
Dallas: $4,975
New York/New Jersey: $4,949
Kansas City (Missouri): $3,362
Seattle: $3,287

Ticket Prices: What Fans Will Pay Across Host Cities

World Cup tickets went on sale in phases, with the first phase starting in October 2025. As of April 2026, tickets are in the "last-minute sales phase," and they can be bought directly from the official FIFA website - fans will need to create a FIFA ID in order to buy them. Tickets, which are available on a first come, first served basis, can be bought by specific row and seat (previously, tickets were sold without seat assignments).

FIFA also has an official secondary market site for tickets. Secondary tickets are also available from traditional ticket resale sites like StubHub.

Ticket costs range widely, ranging from $400 to $10,990 as the top price for the final match on July 19.

How Ticket Prices Vary by City

Between the first ticket release phase in October and the most recent release on April 1, FIFA ticket prices for U.S. host cities have risen by as much as 100%, according to a review by The Athletic.

Below is a breakdown of the cost of World Cup tickets, including the starting price (lowest currently available) on the FIFA website, as well as the price for a good seat in one of the later rounds on a resale marketplace, as of early April 2026. (Keep in mind that cities are hosting six to nine matches each, and certain matches will likely be costlier than others because of demand.)

Travel Costs: Flights, Hotels, and Transportation

Unless they live nearby, many fans will travel to the World Cup host cities, which typically involves flights, hotel rooms, and transportation costs, such as rideshares.

Hotel rooms range from less than $250 a night in Houston to close to $600 a night in Boston as of January 2026, according to an analysis by the travel platform Lighthouse. However, rates for hotel rooms for the semi-final and final matches will likely be significantly higher.

Flight prices depend on the location a fan is flying from and to, but an April 10 search on Google flights yielded an average price of $430 for a domestic roundtrip flight timed to match event dates.

Because many of the stadiums are located outside city centers, a rideshare to a match is estimated to cost about $100. In some locations, public transportation such as trains or bus service may be available.

Creating a budget for World Cup travel costs may help make paying for them more manageable.

Travel Cost Differences by City

Here is the approximate travel cost per city, including airfare, hotel, and transportation to and from the stadium, based on a two-night stay (arriving the day before the match and leaving the day after).

Atlanta: $1,292
Boston: $1,904
Dallas: $1,419
Houston: $1,103
Kansas City: $1,318
Los Angeles: $1,398
Miami: $1,386
New York/New Jersey: $1,878
Philadelphia: $1,382
San Francisco: $1,195
Seattle: $1,521

Spending at the Stadium: Food, Merchandise, Parking

When it's finally match time, fans will need to take money out of their bank account once again for parking, food and drink, and official merch.

Parking costs more than $100 for many World Cup matches throughout the host cities, according to FIFA's parking website. SoFi's analysis found that parking ranges from $99 in Atlanta to $250 in Los Angeles. In New York/New Jersey, parking for the final match is already sold out, while San Francisco only has ADA-compliant parking left. Parking prices for the World Cup in Seattle have not yet been determined as of April 10 but will likely start at around $100.

Each stadium sets its own prices for food and drink. Prices have not yet been established for most venues, except for Atlanta, which has vowed to keep its "fan first" $2 hot dogs and $5 beers. Based on prices for food and beverages at last summer's Club World Cup (a tournament prelude to the 2026 World Cup), plus pricing for special past sports events like the Super Bowl, SoFi is estimating that a hot dog at each venue will be about $15, and a beer will start around $15.

Fans can buy their team gear online ahead of time at the FIFA store if they'd like to wear it to the game (it should also be available for purchase at the stadiums). Men's and women's official World Cup USA home and away jerseys are $100 each from the FIFA online store.

Stadium Spending by City

This is the estimated cost for parking, one hot dog and one beer, and one official team jersey in each host city.

Atlanta: $206
Boston: $305
Dallas: $255
Houston: $255
Kansas City: $255
Los Angeles: $380
Miami: $379
New York/New Jersey: $355
Philadelphia: $255
San Francisco: $280 (ADA parking only)
Seattle: $230 (includes an estimated parking price of $100)

In-City Spending: Restaurants and Tourism

World Cup fans will also need to factor in costs for meals and sightseeing in the host city they've traveled to. The most expensive city for restaurants and entertainment is New York, while Dallas is the most affordable.

Cost Breakdown by City

The following is the estimated per person cost over two days for restaurants and tourist activities.

Atlanta: $400
Boston: $394
Dallas: $240
Houston: $232
Kansas City: $310
Los Angeles: $500
Miami: $350
New York/New Jersey: $720
Philadelphia: $342
San Francisco: $320
Seattle: $316

Economic Impact on Jobs, Tourism, and Local Businesses

The 2026 World Cup is projected to generate as much as $17.2 billion in economic activity in the U.S. and create approximately 185,000 jobs, though many of them may be temporary jobs, according to a 2025 FIFA study. The jobs will be in a range of sectors, including hospitality, tourism, security, and retail. Each U.S. host city is expected to see between $160 million and $620 million in incremental economic activity.

Local businesses in each city, especially those in the tourism and hospitality industries, as well as businesses located near the stadiums, are anticipated to experience a surge in revenue.

However, as of early April, some cities have not seen the expected demand for hotel rooms. And because of stricter rules now in place for entering the U.S. and rising airfares, there is some speculation that international attendance for U.S. World Cup matches may not be as high as first anticipated.

The Takeaway

The 2026 World Cup is set to be one of the most expensive sporting events ever, with ticket prices ranging from several hundred dollars to as much as $10,900 for the final match. Beyond entry, fans must budget for airfare, hotels, food, and local transit. Currently, Boston ranks as the most expensive U.S. host city with a total projected cost of $7,589, while Seattle offers the most value at $3,287.

To afford this "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, fans should start preparing early. Key strategies include building a dedicated travel fund in a high-yield savings account, comparison shopping for the best early bird rates on flights and lodging, and establishing a firm total budget to manage the event's high costs.

FAQ

How much does it cost to attend the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.?

The average total cost to attend the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., including one ticket, travel and lodging, meals, stadium cost, local transportation, and sightseeing is approximately $5,440, according to an April 10 cost analysis by SoFi. The most expensive host city in which to attend the World Cup is Boston, where the total cost is approximately $7,589, while Seattle is the most affordable at $3,287.

How much are 2026 World Cup tickets expected to cost?

Starting prices for tickets for the 2026 World Cup range from $400 to $675 when purchased on the FIFA website as of early April 2026. Ticket prices on a resale marketplace range from $1,479 to $4,986. Ticket prices can vary widely by the host city and the teams playing.

Which U.S. cities will be the most expensive for World Cup 2026?

Boston and Philadelphia are projected to be the most expensive host cities for World Cup 2026, costing approximately $7,589 and $6,965 respectively (these prices include tickets bought on a secondary marketplace as well as airfare, lodging, transportation, food, and stadium costs), according to SoFi's analysis in early April 2026.

How much will hotels cost during the 2026 World Cup?

Hotel prices for the 2026 World Cup range from approximately $205 per night in Houston to $611 per night in Boston as of early April 2026. However, rates for hotel rooms for the semi-final and final matches may be significantly higher.

Which city is the cheapest to attend World Cup 2026 matches?

Seattle is projected to be the cheapest city for World Cup 2026 matches, with an estimated cost of $3,287 per attendee, according to SoFi's analysis of the data in early April 2026.

This story was produced by SoFi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM.