The cost of being a fan: The price of following your country in every World Cup 2026 game
The world’s largest sporting event comes to North America this summer, but it isn’t just matters on the field that have people talking.
Over 5 billion sports fans engaged with the 2022 tournament in Qatar; and with a summer schedule back in force, that figure can only increase ahead of the 2026 edition.
Key Highlights
- Despite being one of the host nations, Canadians face the highest fees per game at a crippling $3,644.65.
- Ticket sales are falling in the US; but not in games involving the co-hosts. It still costs around 10 weeks of the average US salary to follow them in every projected game.
- Supporters travelling from France face the highest bill to follow their team in every World Cup game at $21,894.19
- Fans of the Ivory Coast can watch their team in their first World Cup for 12 years; but it will come at a significant cost of 485% more than the average Cote D’Ivoire salary.
- It could be an early exit for Tunisia; but they face the cheapest overall cost at $5,809.09 if they fail to make it beyond the group stage.
According to research firm, Tourism Economics, 1.2 million international fans are expected to travel from each of the 45 non-host countries to witness the games live; and much has been made of the financial cost to attend even just one World Cup game. For the die-hard supporters planning to attend every single game across the continent, potentially covering 3,436 miles from Miami to Vancouver; how much can you expect to spend in real terms? Supporting your country at a major tournament has never been cheap, but in 2026, some fans could end up paying several times their annual salary just to follow their team around the continent. Factoring in projected tournament progress, food and drinks, tickets, flights and accommodation, who faces the largest cost of ultimate soccer fandom this summer? We’ll break it down for you.
The cost of being a fan
Success comes at a cost; and fans of 2022 runner-up France will feel that in the US this summer. Many will argue that witnessing the likes of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise is priceless; but watching all eight of Les Bleus potential route to the final will have a harsh impact on the bank account. While an average cost per game of $2,736.77 for French fans is one of the more sensible amounts in this study, an overall price tag of $21,894.19 is almost half the average salary there. Putting it even more bleakly, it’s approximately what Mbappe earns in around 6 hours. Reigning champions Argentina are expected to launch a stern challenge to defend their trophy. If fans of the South Americans have financially recovered from their exploits in Qatar three and a half years ago, it doesn’t get much better for them in the US. Yes, witnessing Lionel Messi is worth a lot of money; but a $21,477.33 cost over a 39-day period is around 335.16% higher than the average salary. Many fans remortgaged homes and took second jobs to afford their 2022 success; it could be a familiar case if Lionel Scaloni’s men take home a fourth World Cup. Spain, England, Brazil and Portugal make up the top six, all recording at least sums of $16,500 to follow their team through thick and thin. Switzerland fans face the seventh-highest cost; although their duration in the States will only set them back 16.05% of their average salary.Food and drink
Our study also took into account the average time spent in each city (based on most convenient flights) alongside the cost of a beer at the stadium. By looking at basic meal costs close to each venue, this felt like a more representative and realistic statistic to view. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has already made headlines for the wrong reasons, due to excessive transport costs to make it from New York to the venue. We also know that food in New York won’t be cheap for fans of the 48 countries.Food costs are expected to be around $87 per day (not including tips) in the big Apple; that’s around 29% more than a ‘regular’ day, based on costs from Numbeo. For fans spending around four days there to soak up the atmosphere and prepare for the games before onward travel, a cost of $348 should be expected.
It’s also going to be getting heated in California; where prices are well known and publicized across Los Angeles. Fancy five nights in LA before a group game? That could set you back $520 – add on a beer at the SoFi and you’re looking at an extra $14 for the privilege; that’s the most expensive beer of any venue at this year’s World Cup. With every cost magnet; there must be some value, right? Those playing their group games in Mexico City might be cracking a smile; some of the world’s best tacos and pancita could set you back as little as $46 per day (47% lower than New York’s offerings); that’s just $322 for a seven-day trip.
Average salary comparisons
Of those with realistic outright win shots, as already mentioned, Argentina faces the largest cost to attend every World Cup game. Tickets are in high demand for Lionel Messi’s (likely) last tournament. So much so, in fact, the overall cost for a fan to attend one group game (tickets, food, flights, hotel, a drink at the game, and transport from a city center) is around 42% of the average Argentinian salary. Approximately 35-40,000 fans made the trip to Qatar and it’s far from certain that the figure will be hugely exceeded in the US this year, when normally, that could quite feasibly be the case. The story isn’t much better for Brazil; full of attacking flair with the wily Carlo Ancelotti leading their 2026 charge. Brazil is expected to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, but it will come at a cost of over $17,000, according to our projections. With the average salary in Brazil very similar to Argentina (just over $6,000 when converted), those following ‘The Samba Boys’ can expect to pay 286% over their average salary. According to our model, Ivory Coast fans will pay the most to watch their team, related to average salary. They’re expected to edge past the Group Stages and play 4 games; at a cost of $11,872; that’s less than many, but with the average salary in the African nation at less than $3,000 per year; the vast majority will be priced out. Attending just one game would cost 121% more than the average salary; on top of reported visa issues for African travellers, it’s highly unlikely that more than 0.01% of the country’s 33 million population will make it to the US. It’s a similar story for other nations such as Egypt (326% over), Turkey (298% over) and Ecuador (105% over). Even in traditionally higher GDP nations such as France and England, fans can still expect to pay almost half of their salary to attend the full tournament.The cost per game
Despite being one of the host nations, demand for tickets is so high in Canada that they face the most expensive ‘per game’ costs. For residents based in Vancouver, where Canada plays two of their three group games, of course these figures aren’t representative – but for those further afield in the country, being priced out looks highly likely. Hotel prices in Vancouver are already at an average of $593 a night in the days leading up to the games, while ticket prices for the opener in Toronto are coming in at no less than $355, as World Cup fever hits The Maple Leafs. For a Canadian fan who doesn’t reside close to Vancouver or Toronto (around 75% of the population), it could cost as much as $3,644.65 to follow Canada per game; with an expected trip to the expensive San Francisco possibly following in the knockouts. Australia is only expected to participate in the group stage; but sky-high flight costs contribute to a huge tally per game. Following The Socceroos will cost $3,412.98 per game, with flights to Vancouver and home from San Francisco making up a huge portion of the total cost.Full time (conclusion)
Fans and media alike have already raised concerns over the pricing for this year’s renewal, and while such pressure has resulted in decreased costs (New Jersey – New York trains and buses have now dropped slightly), ultimately, fans will always vote with their feet. Will we see every stadium full? Given that the average resale price has fallen by around 23% as of May 26th, Gianni Infantino’s ‘508 million fans have applied for tickets’ claim looks more questionable by the day, and our report on the finances behind it only makes widespread sellout crowds seem even more unlikely.On fan feedback:
Will fans give good feedback during and after games? Based on our study, it’s likely to be a case-by-case basis.
If you’re a Canadian fan for example living hundreds of miles away from either Vancouver or Toronto, you’d be right to feel hard done by spending thousands on hotels, flights or gas to watch your team in a home World Cup. Spare a thought too for Argentinian fans, who after forking out well over their salary in Qatar four years, face a repeat in 2026. Whether it’s a European-based final with two of France, Spain or England, an Argentina/Brazil South American duel or following Ivory Coast in the Group Stages; everyone will feel the pinch this summer.
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