World Cup fans absorb five-figure costs as ticket prices climb

World Cup spectators are paying thousands of dollars, and in some cases six figures, to attend matches as resale and hospitality prices lift the cost of following the tournament. Fans interviewed by CNBC Make It outside New York’s Penn Station, en route to games at MetLife Stadium, said their expected spending ranged from about $2,500 to $150,000, with none saying they regretted the outlay.

As of July 2, CNBC Make It reported that some of the top resale seats for high-profile knockout-stage matches were listed at roughly $20,000 on StubHub. Many resale seats in upper sections were listed at about $5,000.

The ticket price is only part of the bill. Air travel, hotels, car rentals, food and merchandise can add thousands more, particularly for fans attending matches across multiple cities in a tournament spread across North America.

Travel turns matches into a multi-city holiday

Tony Richardson, visiting from the U.K. with his son, told CNBC Make It that they built several weeks of travel in the United States around World Cup fixtures. He said they booked flights early for about $2,000 and paid roughly $1,000 for each match ticket, with additional spending on hotels and rental cars.

Their route included Orlando, Daytona Beach, Dallas, New Orleans, Graceland in Memphis and Niagara Falls before England’s match against Ghana in Boston. New York was their final stop.

Richardson described the trip to CNBC Make It as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience and said the reception from people in the U.S. had changed his view of the country.

Hospitality packages lift the ticket bill

Andrew Hall, a New Yorker who described himself to CNBC Make It as a committed soccer fan, avoided airfare and hotel costs but spent heavily on FIFA hospitality packages. Those packages offer a premium alternative to standard tickets, guaranteeing access to selected matches and adding food, drinks and lounge access.

Hall said he paid about $2,000 per ticket and expected to spend more than $12,000 across five matches. His wife, who is pregnant, joined him for two games, while friends attended the other three with him.

According to CNBC Make It, Hall began planning once New York was named as a host city, setting reminders for ticket sales and New Jersey Transit reservations. He said he would attend again and wished the tournament were held every year.

Top spenders plan for ten matches

Rachel and Nigel Vinecombe told CNBC Make It they expected to spend about $150,000 to attend 10 World Cup matches, the highest amount among the fans interviewed. They said about $100,000 of that total was for FIFA ticket packages, with the balance covering travel, lodging and other expenses.

The couple, who split their time between Israel and Australia, flew from Tel Aviv for the tournament. Their schedule included eight matches in New Jersey, a quarterfinal in Miami and a semifinal in Atlanta.

Nigel Vinecombe said this was his fifth World Cup and told CNBC Make It that the tournament offered a stronger fan “carnival” atmosphere than club matches. The couple also said they intend to attend the next World Cup, which CNBC Make It reported will be hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

Years of saving for a shorter trip

Miguel Macias, from Guadalajara, Mexico, told CNBC Make It he expected to spend about $2,500 on his New York trip. His budget included about $700 for a match ticket, $500 for airfare and roughly $1,200 for a hotel.

Macias had also attended an earlier match in Mexico City, where he said he spent about $1,500 including an Airbnb. He told CNBC Make It he had saved for four years for the experience and considered the cost worthwhile.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.