Story byWhy the 2026 World Cup is a bargain for Ronaldo and Messi fans — and most expensive for AmericansPitchside USWed, January 21, 2026 at 5:20 AM UTC·4 min readAttending a World Cup is expensive, but for the 2026 tournament, where a team plays will matter more than how far fans travel. A new Doc’s Sports analysis found that host-nation fans pay the most, while many traditional football powers’ supporters pay significantly less for the same number of matches. The study estimates total fan costs for all three group-stage matches for each of the 48 teams. It identifies Category 3 ticket prices and hotel stays as the biggest contributors to overall expenses, with inter-city travel playing a secondary role. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhy U. S.