'Daylight robbery but worth it' - what fans are spending

'Daylight robbery but worth it' - what fans are spending on World Cup 3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kayla Epstein, Jessica Murphy and Will Grant New York, Toronto and Mexico City How much did these fans pay for their World Cup tickets? For many fans, going to the World Cup is a priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But if you look into the costs, there are eye-watering sums of cash being spent. From match tickets to flights and hotels, plus the travel to stadiums and the cost of a drink once inside, the costs of attending can add up fast. Five days into the tournament, football fans in the host nations of Mexico, Canada and the US have told the BBC how much they are spending at the World Cup. Norwegian in US can't wait around till next World Cup Morten Oftedal takes the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime" seriously. A Norwegian now living in Atlanta, Georgia, he knows this summer was likely to be the only chance for his 82-year-old father to see their country play in the World Cup, after Norway qualified for the first time in 28 years. "I've been a huge soccer fan my whole life, and it's mostly due to dad," Oftedal told the BBC. "I can't be like, 'no, let's do it next time, or somewhere else'. So, we're very excited." What did not excite him was the cost. Oftedal purchased three tickets to see Norway v Iraq in Massachusetts for $380 (£282) apiece. Round-trip flights from Atlanta to Boston cost him 180,000 of his frequent flyer points for three tickets. And transport to the stadium will cost $80 round trip for each person. In total, Oftedal will spend about $3,600 worth of cash and points for himself, his father, and his wife to attend one match. It's a number that Oftedal described as "insane". "It's not really for individuals, I feel like it's for corporate America," Oftedal said of the 2026 tournament. Iain Bagwell Iain Bagwell (right) and his son Several people told the BBC their cost of attending the tournament stretched into the low thousands. But they said their love of football and the memories they hoped to create eased the sting. "I paid about $1,200 for each ticket, for category 2," said Iain Bagwell, a 58-year-old Brit who lives in Atlanta and will take his son on a road trip to see England v Croatia in Dallas, Texas. "At the time I thought it was like daylight robbery. But looking at the way it's going, and the way that Fifa handled it, it probably wasn't such a bad deal." Bagwell and his son are camping during the journey to Dallas, for equal parts fun and thrift. After seeing England play, they will drive to Kansas City and watch Tunisia battle the Netherlands for $235 per ticket. Many American fans have become used to the high cost of sporting events. For example, the cheapest ticket to see the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden during the recent NBA finals started at about $3,500. For fans visiting from other nations, the cost of attending the 2026 World Cup have come as a shock. Couple spend thousands to wa