A wide range of expenses awaited fans attending the recent World Cup in the United States, with many travelers spending thousands of dollars to experience the tournament in person. Despite initial concerns over the cost, numerous spectators said they found the trips worthwhile and would make similar investments again.
Craig Hahn, a 38-year-old software engineer from Philadelphia, attended an impressive 16 matches across 10 host cities, spending roughly $19,256. A devoted supporter of the U.S. team, Hahn prioritized attending all five U.S. games, along with matches featuring host nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States. His travels included local transportation costs such as $50 for a train to New York and $20 for a bus to MetLife Stadium. Hahn, who has attended three previous World Cups, acknowledged the significant expense but emphasized that missing out on the experience “would have been regrettable.”
Leonardo Giuseppe Russo Dias, a 27-year-old from São Paulo and owner of a beach sports company, spent about $8,281 attending three games. He took careful measures to manage costs, using Airbnb accommodations rather than pricier hotels and occasionally cooking meals. Dias made a notable day trip to Houston to watch Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, an excursion that cost over $1,100 despite avoiding an overnight stay. His highlight was Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti in Philadelphia, which he enjoyed with fellow Brazilian supporters. Dias expressed willingness to undertake a similar expense again if financially feasible.
On the West Coast, 36-year-old employment counselor Antonio Borjon attended all five U.S. games alongside his wife and their young daughter. Benefiting from ticket lotteries for supporters groups, the family paid approximately $8,114 for tickets, travel, and related expenses. Borjon described the tournament as an unforgettable experience, noting the initial excitement after the opening match against Paraguay persisted long after.
Norwegian fan Patrick de Souza Tuntland, 36, traveled with friends from Oslo to attend three games while exploring the East Coast, accruing expenses of about $5,619. The group’s trip included tickets purchased through Norway’s soccer federation, train travel, and accommodations in Airbnbs, supplemented by sightseeing activities like attending a Broadway show and visiting landmarks. Despite budget constraints following the trip, Tuntland said he would relive the experience “100 times.”
Meanwhile, 26-year-old credit analyst Christian Hayes-Silvestri from Massachusetts spent around $3,253 for four matches. Using FIFA’s lottery system to secure tickets at face value, he also paid for parking, concessions, and last-minute ticket purchases for a quarterfinal game in Boston. Though some costs, including parking and stadium refreshments, were steep, Hayes-Silvestri described the outlay as “worth it.”
Atlanta-based finance executive Maz Abdalla spent $763 attending a single round-of-32 match just 20 minutes from home. He and his wife purchased tickets in advance and incurred minor additional expenses for transportation and stadium refreshments. Abdalla explored the possibility of attending a semifinal match in the city but opted to watch it remotely due to high ticket prices.
Finally, project engineer Martin Bautista of New Mexico attended three games in Houston and managed to turn a profit of about $500 by selling some of his FIFA presale tickets on the resale market. His total expenses, including travel and in-stadium purchases, remained relatively modest, and he expressed enthusiasm about the overall experience despite the financial juggling.
Overall, attendees displayed a broad spectrum of spending levels and approaches to managing costs. While some spent more than $19,000 on extensive itineraries, others attended fewer matches with more modest expenses or offset costs by ticket resales. Regardless of expenditure, many fans described their World Cup experiences as deeply rewarding and memorable.