Certain World Cup seats cost more than mortgages in these 5 US cities: report
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Football fans hoping to watch the World Cup in person may need a budget the size of a house.
The tournament begins Thursday in Mexico City, launching a six-week event expected to draw between 5 and 6 million fans to 16 North American cities. But for many American fans, getting inside the stadium has become a major financial hurdle, according to Realtor.com.
In five of the 11 US home cities, the cheapest World Cup tickets available for late-season tournament matches cost more than the average monthly premium in that market, Realtor.com reported, citing real estate research firm PropertyShark.
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A general view outside MetLife Stadium on June 9, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
That means fans in Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City and the New York area can spend as much as a mortgage payment — or more — on a single seat. The figure does not include airfare, hotel stays, meals, parking or merchandise.
The highest prices are for the July 19 finals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The least expensive seats are listed at $7,256, well above New York's average monthly rent of $4,096 and median rent of $4,872, according to Realtor.com.
In Dallas, the cheapest tickets for the July 14 semifinal game are listed at $2,391, just above the city's average house price of $2,351. In Atlanta, the lowest-priced semi-final tickets cost $2,208, more than the average mortgage payment of $2,149, the report said.
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A general view of the 2026 FIFA World Cup signs at Kansas City Stadium on June 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photos by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
The cheapest Kansas City seats for the July 11 game are $1,567, compared to an average mortgage payment of $1,477. In Miami, the cheapest tickets for Colombia vs. Portugal on June 27 are $2,700, roughly the same as the city's mortgage payment and rent, according to Realtor.com.
Some consumers have already been charged the price. A LiveSportsonTV survey of 1,008 American soccer fans found that 52% have given up on buying World Cup tickets because of the high cost.
“We're seeing unprecedented prices for events like the World Cup because of supply and demand, to put it simply,” Mark Sanaiha of Macallan Capital said in a statement. “For years, the experience economy has outpaced wage growth, and the younger generations don't plan to change that trajectory.”
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A detailed view of the 2026 FIFA World Cup sign inside Dallas Stadium on April 13, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images/Getty)
The price also attracted the attention of government officials. Attorneys general in Texas, New York, New Jersey and California have launched investigations into World Cup ticket prices and packaging policies, Realtor.com reports.
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“Fair ticket sales are not complicated,” New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement. “But FIFA has turned World Cup ticket buying into chaos, artificial shortages, and unbelievably high prices — all at the expense of consumers and hard-working New Jerseyans.”
