For Mark, who is 28 and works as a senior vice president at a Manhattan bank, getting tickets for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. wasn’t just a solo venture; it involved his whole family. He shared with the Post that his parents, avid soccer fans, haven’t put a cap on how much they’re willing to spend this year, even after investing over $35,000 in an all-inclusive package for the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Mark, a Long Island native who prefers to stay anonymous—fearing the label of a “rich kid from the Upper West Side”—bought most of this year’s tickets using his father’s credit card. He was chosen to handle the arrangements since he’s apparently the best in the family at managing FIFA’s often perplexing virtual ticketing system.
While these tournaments demand hefty expenditures, Mark described his parents, both senior accountants, as typically “frugal” and not one to splurge on extravagant clothing or high-end meals. Instead, their family tradition has been to purchase World Cup tickets every four years since 2006. Mark cherishes keepsakes from past matches, like a $90 ticket for the Colombia vs. Ivory Coast match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
And Mark isn’t alone in his enthusiasm. With the World Cup being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico this time and returning to North America for the first time since 1994, soccer fans are eager to catch this global event, which kicks off on June 11 and runs until July 19.
Ticket costs vary significantly, with prices starting at $192 for the Jordan vs. Algeria game on June 22 in California and skyrocketing to $7,869 for the finals at MetLife Stadium on July 19. On FIFA’s official site, many tickets exceed $1,000, but some matches, like the June 13 Australia vs. Turkey game in Vancouver, still offer Category 2 tickets for $380.
Mark noted that soccer is a major part of their lives, revealing that he dedicated $1,200 of his own earnings to enjoy this year’s tournament, while his brother contributed additional funds. “Our family is obsessed with soccer and we watch it almost daily,” he confessed, reminiscing about his childhood memories connected to the sport. His plans included securing two tickets for the MetLife finals and attending at least one game outside of New Jersey.
While he successfully snagged tickets for the finals, he ended up acquiring only two tickets, which he attended with his father. Originally, he bought two for $620 for an upcoming Spain game versus Cape Verde in Atlanta, which he eventually sold for a slight profit due to family scheduling conflicts.
Mark’s extensive list for the 2026 World Cup includes:
Brazil vs. Haiti in Philadelphia | June 19th
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $890
- Travel: ~$250 (dependent on transport method)
- Food and Goods: ~$100
Norway vs. Senegal, East Rutherford | June 22nd
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $1,240
- Travel: ~$250 (depending on transport)
- Food and Goods: ~$100
Croatia vs. Ghana (Philadelphia) | June 27th
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $890
- Travel: ~$250
- Food and Goods: ~$100
East Rutherford Round of 16 | July 5th
- 4 Category 2 tickets: $3,140
- Travel: ~$500
- Food and Goods: ~$200
Finals at East Rutherford | July 19th
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $15,750
- Travel: ~$250
- Food and Goods: ~$100
Total (including estimated travel, meals, and merchandise): $24,010
“A Thoughtful Christmas Gift”
Brianna Zwingelberg, 34, from Austin, Texas, found the perfect holiday gift for her soccer-loving husband, Grayson: tickets to a World Cup game. Despite the high cost, it felt like an unavoidable choice. She purchased Category 1 tickets for Algeria vs. Austria on June 27 in Kansas City for $1,128.52 total.
As Brianna, a writer, expressed, she wasn’t too worried about potential ticket scams, having had good experiences with third-party platforms in the past. Excitement filled her as she envisioned gifting him this “once in a lifetime” chance.
“Grayson has been a dedicated soccer fan since we met,” said Brianna, recalling that their last World Cup in the U.S. was back in 1994. “It’s unlikely we’ll see it again in our lifetime.”
Grayson was, predictably, thrilled about the surprise. They decided he and his brother, also a soccer fan, would use the tickets while Brianna planned to enjoy a weekend with friends nearby, potentially catching the game from a bar.
Moreover, Grayson decided to splurge on yet another World Cup match, spending $1,131 for a Round of 32 game on July 3 in Arlington, Texas. He expects to drive four hours from Austin for the game with close friends, hoping the U.S. team secures a spot.
Grayson and his friend considered splurging on tickets for a West Coast game but decided against it due to the exorbitant overall costs involved.
Here’s the Zwingelburgs’ total for both game experiences:
Algeria vs. Austria in Kansas City | June 27th
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $1,128.50
- Flights: $500 (round trip)
- Staying with a friend: $0
- Food: about $100
- Goods: $0
Round 32 in Arlington | July 3rd
- 1 Category 1 ticket: $1,131
- Round trip gas: ~$90
- Parking: TBD
- Hotel: ~$250
- Food/Merchandise: ~$200
Total: $3,399.50
“I Can’t Pass This Up”
Luis Chavez, a 40-year-old UPS driver in Dallas, has set aside three weeks to travel with his wife to the World Cup. He decided against third-party ticket platforms for the four matches he plans to see.
Chavez sees this as a rare opportunity, especially since Mexico is co-hosting the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. “Waiting another 30 or 40 years for the next World Cup isn’t an option for me,” he stated, explaining the urgency of the chance.
Here’s the couple’s projected costs for their experience at each game:
World Cup opener: Mexico vs. South Asia in Mexico City | June 11th
- 2 Category 3 tickets: $2,820
- Flights: 80,000 miles (plus $338 fees)
- Airbnb: $400
- Food and merchandise: ~$1,500 for two days (they plan to explore local artisan shops).
Japan vs. Netherlands in Dallas | June 14th
- Donation of $900 towards a hospitality package shared with friends.
- Drive: $30.
- Parking: $128.
Round 32 in Dallas | June 30th
- 4 Category 2 tickets: $1,620 (includes Luis’s parents).
- Drive: $30.
- Parking: $128.
- Food and merchandise: $500.
Round of 16 in Houston | July 4th
- 2 Category 1 tickets: $1,490.
- Drive: TBD.
- Hotel: ~$500 for two nights (still to be booked).
- Food and merchandise: $700.
They’ve also spent around $1,100 on merchandise, including hoodies and hats, to wear for the games.
Total: $12,184
