Which World Cup Fans Will Pay the Most to Follow Their Team?
“Which World Cup fans will pay the most to follow their team in 2026?” you ask. Read on for Total Apex Sports’ answer, courtesy of a new study by Doc’s Sports. Doc’s Sports found that the fans of the host nations will face some of the highest costs to follow their teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While the fans of several non-host countries will pay less than half as much to attend the same number of matches. Researchers for Doc’s Sports estimated the total cost for fans to attend all three group-stage matches for each of the 48 participating teams.
The total cost included match tickets, hotel accommodations, and inter-city travel, per the official FIFA group-stage schedule and host city assignments. The gulf between the cheapest, South Korea, and the most expensive, the host nation, the United States of America, is a staggering $1,776.
American Fans Face the Highest Costs to Follow Their Team
The top three host nations, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, all appear in the bottom ten for overall fan value. England’s fans face costs of $2,347, placing them among the most expensive supporters in the World Cup. Asian teams dominate the best-value rankings, with South Korea and Japan among the cheapest.
American fans pay $1,776 more than South Korean fans to follow their team. The 132% cost difference between South Korea and the United States’ experiences stems from several factors, including a host-nation premium reflected in higher Category 3 ticket prices.
FIFA’s market-based pricing, with ticket costs fluctuating based on demand, city selection (e.g., higher accommodation costs in Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and New Jersey), and travel logistics (traveling between distant cities and incurring higher expenses). Six of the ten most expensive group stages for fans exceeded $2,300 in total costs, which include elevated hotel prices and premium ticket costs across multiple host cities.
Why Costs Vary Widely Worldwide
The study found that accommodation and ticket prices for the World Cup account for nearly 89% of total fan costs, with the travel distance playing a relatively minor role. The teams assigned to host cities with high hotel demand and limited inventory consistently ranked among the most expensive, regardless of how far the fans needed to travel between matches.
In contrast, teams playing in more affordable lodging markets ranked far better for overall fan value. At the opposite end of the spectrum, South Korea offers the best overall value for fans, with a projected total cost of $1,341 to attend all three group-stage matches. The Netherlands ($1,373) and UEFA Path B ($1,383) follow closely behind.
Several African and Island nations also rank among the most affordable teams to follow, largely because they are assigned to host cities with lower accommodation costs rather than shorter travel distances. Notably, some teams traveled more than 3,000 miles between group-stage matches. Yet distance alone showed little correlation with the total cost.
Distance Traveled May or May Not Drive Costs
The distance traveled to the World Cup shows only a weak correlation with total costs, indicating miles don’t dictate overall value. Algeria travels 2,964 miles but maintains a below-median total cost of $1,789, while Norway covers just 377 miles yet ranks among the most expensive at $2,352. Hotel and ticket pricing in the assigned cities matters far more than the travel logistics.
Methodology
The analysis assumed attendance at all three group-stage matches, the Category 3 match tickets, especially in the lowest-priced ticket tier, the total trip length of three nights of accommodation in each host city, the inter-city travel costs based on distance and average transportation pricing, and the standardized assumptions across all of the teams for a fair comparison.
