The most expensive World Cup in history.

World Cup tickets are very expensive. Flights to North America are also expensive. Hotel rooms in many places are also expensive. And then there's the high price of beer… In short, everything is very expensive, making the 2026 World Cup the most expensive tournament in history.

Austin Franklin (right) and Kevin Akoto have a dream job. Both are paid to watch all 104 World Cup matches in a cubicle studio in the heart of New York's Times Square - Photo: AFP

According to a report by The Athletic, the price of hotel rooms per night in cities hosting matches at the 2026 World Cup more than doubled during the tournament. In many match-holding cities, even a 2- or 3-star hotel cost an average of over $348 per night.

Everything is... ridiculously expensive!

Hotel prices in the 11 US cities hosting the World Cup have skyrocketed. Accommodation costs in cities like New York, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles have increased by an average of 300%. The price of a 4- or 5-star hotel room per night has exceeded $500. In addition to hotels, rental prices have also risen significantly.

Airfare is also a challenge. Fans from all over the world wanting to fly to US cities to watch the World Cup have to pay quite a lot for airfare. It is estimated that the amount a fan spends on tickets for matches from the group stage to the final could exceed $7,000. When you add airfare and accommodation, this figure could be five times the cost of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

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Fans also face soaring prices for food and drinks at World Cup matches. According to the Daily Mail (UK), some English fans will have to spend around $35,000 to watch their team play across the United States throughout the World Cup. Argentinian fans, for example, will have to spend over $30,000 each to follow Messi and the Argentinian team at the 2026 World Cup. Many dedicated "super fans" have used their life savings or their entire down payment on a house to experience the tournament firsthand.

Expensive, but...worth it.

Although most complained about the exorbitant cost, they all happily accepted it because it was... the World Cup. Croatian fan Martina said: "We're here to support the Croatian team, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even though it's a considerable amount of money, I don't want to talk about it because I don't want our parents to know... However, it's completely worth it for what we've experienced here. If there's another World Cup here in four years, we'll definitely come back."

Many others also praised the tournament's organization and the warm welcome from the local people. They said that experiencing the fervent atmosphere of the World Cup was worth any amount of money. Fan Meralda Serrato said: "Nothing compares to being in the stadium. But I prefer being here on the streets... For me, experiencing the passionate atmosphere of football is something amazing! I feel the blood rushing through my veins, as if I'm shouting: This is the World Cup!"

Lucky fans

Not all fans will have to pay to watch the 2026 World Cup matches live. Some are very lucky and can watch the games for free, or even get paid to watch them. Take Qatar, for example. Specifically, about 1,000 Qatari fans landed in Vancouver, Canada, on a private jet chartered by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

These fans are staying in the most luxurious hotels, have private transportation, and all of this is free. The Qatar Social and Sporting Contributions Fund has partnered with the country's Football Federation to fund the "Qatar Supporters Program" for the World Cup.

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But even more remarkable is the case of two American fans, Kevin Akoto and Austin Franklin. They were each paid $50,000 by Fox News to watch all 104 World Cup matches in a giant, three-walled glass aquarium in the heart of Times Square, Manhattan. Both were selected from thousands of applicants who uploaded videos to social media to apply for the position. Their agreement was to "create social media content, record their reactions, and interact with fans" throughout the tournament.

Franklin said, "It was really like being on the Truman Show. Sometimes I forget we're even here. I'd watch the game for a few minutes, then look over at Kevin and see people right above me. So many people watching us, watching the games... It was a strange experience."

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/world-cup-dat-do-nhat-lich-su-100260625105153428.htm