World Cup 2026: Football fever and a hefty bill.

The 2026 World Cup is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever held in North America. But as the tournament draws closer, the American press is increasingly talking about a very real issue: fans who want to watch the World Cup live will have to shell out a considerable amount of money.

Reuters reports that the Attorneys General of New York and New Jersey have launched an investigation into FIFA regarding the sale of World Cup tickets at MetLife Stadium, where the final will be held. The issue lies in the pricing mechanism, which fluctuates according to market demand, and complaints that some buyers did not receive the correct class of seats they paid for.

AP highlighted the shocking prices. Some seats for the July 19th final at MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 82,000, were listed at nearly $33,000. At this price, the World Cup risks becoming a luxury experience rather than a sporting event for the majority of fans. Because of this, New York City had to launch a lottery program offering 1,000 tickets for just $50 to local residents, including round-trip bus transportation to the stadium.

But the World Cup bill isn't just about the tickets to the stadium; it also includes travel and accommodation costs.

AP reports that a round-trip train ticket to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey costs nearly $100, about seven to eight times more than the cost of attending a regular American football game. In Massachusetts, the increase is about four times, to $80 instead of around $20. For many fans, the journey to the stadium alone has become a significant part of the cost of watching the World Cup.

Forbes views the 2026 World Cup as a huge opportunity for tourism , hotels, restaurants, and other football-related businesses. However, host cities must also prepare large budgets for security, infrastructure, and logistics. Meanwhile, many major revenue streams, such as ticket sales, sponsorships, television rights, and merchandise, primarily flow to FIFA and its commercial partners.

For many fans, this year's World Cup is associated with very specific questions such as how much tickets will cost, how to get around, where to stay, and how much the total cost will ultimately be. For the host cities, the challenge is how to turn the World Cup frenzy into real economic benefits, rather than simply an expensive festival.

Source: https://vtv.vn/world-cup-2026-con-sot-bong-da-va-hoa-don-dat-do-100260529105142696.htm