Fans face record costs at US Cup
Copa of Mundo in Estados Unidos in 2026 promises to be the most expensive for Brazilian fans compared to recent editions. Ingressos can exceed thousands of dollars, while air tickets, accommodation and travel to stadiums blow up family budgets. Muitos already withdrew from the trip even before the final group draw.
The scenario is radically different from Rússia 2018 and Catar 2022. In Naquelas competitions, public transport to the stadiums was free or significantly cheaper. Desta instead, each move between cities and arenas will cost hundreds of dollars.
Transporte for stadiums costs hundreds of dollars
Em Boston, the train that connects the city to Estádio Gillette, at Foxborough, about 50 kilometers away, will have a price approximately ten times higher than normal. A ticket will cost US$80, the equivalent of R$400. The Express bus reserved for ticket holders costs US$95 for a round trip, totaling R$475.
Em Nova York, the situation is equally expensive. The journey from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, will cost US$ 100 round trip, or R$ 500. Esses values are in addition to the expenses already planned for accommodation, food and the traditional North American tip of up to 20% on services.
Fernanda Zaguis, planning and management consultant for Movimento Verde and Amarelo — an entity that has organized trips for Brazilians to Copas and Mundo since 2008 — states that the combined cost keeps entire families away. “When it’s a single person, they turn around, go in love and stay on someone’s couch. But when it’s for four people, we saw that a lot of people won’t be able to go because the cost has increased a lot”, he explains.
Passagens smaller airlines do not offset other expenses
Para the Brazilian public, Copa in Américas presents an initial advantage: the price of airline tickets is significantly lower than it was for Catar or Rússia. Geographic proximity reduces this important travel budget item. Entretanto, this economy dissolves in the face of all the other expenses that explode in Estados Unidos.
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Hospedagens in cities that host games are already at high levels. Restaurantes apply international prices. The North American cost of living, notably in urban centers such as Boston, Nova York and Miami, leaves little room for savings. Tudo, not to mention the stadium tickets themselves, which reach record values.
Clima withdrawal among group organizers
Discouragement is widespread among professionals who have worked for years organizing fan caravans. Zaguis points out a fundamental difference between Copa 2026 and the 2022 edition of Catar. “Everyone is angry. Acho will be even more expensive than Catar, which was an expensive country, but we didn’t have to keep changing places. Não had internal flights and we saved money on that”, he states.
The structure of Copa in Estados Unidos, with stadiums spread across multiple cities across the country, forces fans to purchase additional plane tickets or face long car journeys. In 2022, Catar allowed fans based in one city to attend multiple games with minimal travel. The difference in final costs is substantial.
Contexto from Copa 2026 at Américas
The 2026 Copa of Mundo will be the first in history with three host countries: Estados Unidos, México and Canadá. Essa geographic distribution, although it brings the advantage of proximity for some Brazilian fans in relation to past venues, creates significant logistical and financial complexities. Organizing international travel involves coordinating accommodation, international flights, land travel between nations and costs of stay in three countries with different currencies and inflation levels.
Brasileiros who planned to watch the selection in person now face difficult choices. Alguns decide to watch just a few games instead of the entire country campaign. Outros give up completely and watch it on television. Famílias who have saved for years to travel together realize that the budget cannot accommodate more than one or two members.
