For football fans dreaming of following their national team all the way to World Cup glory, the 2026 tournament could come with a hefty price tag.
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New research by AceOdds has revealed that travelling to every match from the group stages through to the Final would cost an average of €54,000 (around R1.1 million) for two people across all 48 participating nations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the largest tournament in the competition’s history. While the expanded format promises more matches and more opportunities for fans to travel, it also means significantly higher costs for those hoping to support their team every step of the way.
The study analysed more than 120,000 accommodation listings and over 52,000 flight options, alongside ticket prices and daily food and drink expenses, to estimate the full cost of attending every match should a team reach the Final.
Tickets take the biggest bite
According to the findings, match tickets account for almost half of the total trip cost.
On average, fans would spend approximately €26,500 on tickets alone, compared with €13,000 on accommodation, €10,500 on flights and €4,500 on food and drinks.
The World Cup Final is by far the most expensive fixture. Two tickets for the showpiece match are estimated to cost around €13,500 — more than the combined price of attending all three group-stage matches for most supporters.
The most expensive nations to follow
Fans travelling from Iraq face the steepest costs of any participating nation.
Supporting the national team from the group stage through to the Final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, would cost an estimated €64,500 for two people. Flights account for more than €21,000 of that total, highlighting the impact of long-haul travel on overall expenses.
Jordan and Argentina complete the top three most expensive countries to follow, with estimated costs of around €62,000 and €60,000 respectively.
The cheapest World Cup journeys
At the other end of the scale, Panama emerged as the most affordable nation to support throughout the tournament.
The total estimated cost for two fans would be around €48,500, thanks largely to shorter flight routes and lower accommodation expenses.
The Czech Republic and Mexico ranked second and third among the least expensive nations to follow.
Researchers found a gap of roughly €16,000 between the most and least expensive fan journeys, with airfare accounting for most of the difference.
How major football nations compare
Among Europe’s traditional football powerhouses, costs remain relatively similar.
French supporters would spend an estimated €53,000 for two people to attend every match, while German fans would pay around €54,000. Spain follows closely at approximately €53,000, while Portugal’s total rises to around €56,000.
England supporters would need to budget roughly £44,700 to follow the Three Lions all the way to the Final.
For Brazilian fans, the total journey is estimated at around R$331,500, while American supporters would spend approximately $63,000 attending matches across North America.
A tournament of epic proportions
With matches spread across dozens of host cities in three countries, the 2026 World Cup promises to be one of the biggest sporting travel events ever staged.
For supporters lucky enough to watch their team reach the Final, the experience may be unforgettable. But as the latest figures show, following that dream from kickoff to trophy lift could require a budget almost as ambitious as the journey itself.
Source: AceOdds. The study analysed accommodation listings from Airbnb and Booking.com, flight data from Google Flights, ticket prices from Livefootballtickets.com and food and drink costs from Numbeo.
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