The eye-watering prices of the World Cup did not stop football fans around the world from opening their wallets.
As of July 2nd, some of the best resale seats for the marquee are listed for around $20,000 on StubHub. Most high-end chairs are listed for around $5,000.
But tickets are only one part of the cost. Add in airfare, hotels, rental cars, food and merchandise, and the price of going to a tournament can cost thousands of dollars more.
Outside of New York’s Penn Station, soccer fans heading to World Cup games at MetLife Stadium told CNBC Make It that they expect to spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to as much as $150,000 to attend the World Cup. Despite the price tag, no one said they regretted the expense.
A cross-country road trip
Visiting from the UK, Tony Richardson and his son spent a few weeks criss-crossing the US, planning their holiday around the World Cup.
Richardson says they booked their flights in advance, paying about $2,000 in airfare. They also spent about $1,000 per ticket and thousands more on rental cars and hotels as they traveled across the country.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” Richardson tells CNBC Make It.
Their journey took them from Orlando and Daytona Beach to Dallas in one game, stopping in New Orleans, Graceland in Memphis and Niagara Falls before England’s game against Ghana in Boston. New York was the last stop.
“We had a great time,” Richardson said. “People were very happy. It really changed my view of the US. Everyone was very friendly.”
One last World Cup before the baby arrives
Andrew Hall, a New Yorker and self-described “die-hard football fan,” didn’t have to pay for flights or hotels.
Instead, he used FIFA hospitality packages, which are different from regular tickets that guarantee access to the matches he wanted and include food, drinks and access to the lounge. He says he paid about $2,000 per ticket and expects to spend more than $12,000 to attend the five games.
“My wife gave me OK as she was pregnant,” Andrew tells CNBC Make It. “He was saying, ‘This is my gift to you. Whatever you want to use, please use it.’
His wife joined him in two games, while his friends accompanied him in the other three.
Andrew says he decided to attend the tournament as soon as New York was announced as the host city, putting in reminders of ticket sales and New Jersey Transit reservations to be first in line.
“Can I do it again? Absolutely,” Hall said. “I wish the World Cup was every year.”
Chasing the World Cup
Rachel and Nigel Vinecombe expect to spend about $150,000 attending 10 World Cup games, making them the biggest spenders CNBC Make It spoke to.
They say about $100,000 of that money is for FIFA tickets, the rest of the money they spend goes to travel, accommodation and other expenses. Their tour includes eight games in New Jersey, as well as a quarterfinal in Miami and a semifinal in Atlanta.
The couple, who split their time between Israel and Australia, flew in from Tel Aviv for the tournament.
“This is the fifth World Cup,” said Nigel. “It’s a much better carnival with the fans than the club games. It’s something I didn’t want to miss.”
The money spent does not stop when the competition ends. Vinecombes is already planning to attend the next World Cup, which will be hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
“And it’s so worth it,” Rachel said. “We’ll do it again.”
Savings for years
Miguel Macias expects to spend about $2,500 during his trip to New York, including about $700 for a game ticket, $500 for airfare and $1,200 for a hotel.
The resident of Guadalajara, Mexico, had already attended a recent World Cup game in Mexico City, where he spent nearly $1,500, including Airbnb.
“It’s a way to celebrate with your people,” Macias tells CNBC Make It. “It’s a wonderful thing.”
Macias says he spent four years hiding the money for the trip.
“I’ve saved years because of this experience, and it’s 100% worth it,” he said.
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