How Big Is The 2026 World Cup?

Records For Viewership And Cost

First, consider the popularity of this year’s global spectacle. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the U.S. team’s opening game against Paraguay was the most watched World Cup game broadcast in English (on FOX) in U.S. history, with over 18 million viewers. That was round one, and it handily surpassed every final game in history, eclipsing the previous record 18.8 million for the Argentina/France championship game four years ago.

But it also broke the record for the most watched U.S. team game ever broadcast in Spanish (on Telemundo) with another nearly 9 million viewers. Telemundo also saw a new record for the most watched Spanish broadcast game ever, period, with more than 12 million tuning in to see Mexico play South Africa. Even fringe games like South Korea/Czech Republic on FS1 brought in more than twice as many viewers as watched similar offerings from Qatar, over 3 million.

The World Cup is setting records off the screen too—the New York Times noted that it is the “most expensive tournament in history.” It’s gotten so out of hand that members of Congress have started questioning the World Cup tickets prices, according to ESPN, which reported that last month FIFA, the event’s governing body, tripled the price of the most expensive tickets to the final game from over $10,000 to $32,970. That’s not since the last World Cup four years ago, that’s since May 2026. And that’s face value, not the almost certainly higher prices on the secondary market. As of June 24, Seatgeek.com had single tickets to the finals from $12,226 to $52,717, with midfield ground level seats from $43,693. On FIFA’s official resale/secondary platform, the most expensive ticket (one) offered to the finals was recently listed at just under $2.3 million (though that doesn’t mean it will sell).

All of which makes the Mark Hotel’s million dollar World Cup package seem, well, reasonable.

A Luxury World Cup Hotel Package That Actually Includes Finals Tickets

For starters, the Mark is a great hotel and a true icon of luxury. Earlier this year a detailed review in the London Times described it as “Ultimate A-list glamour on New York’s Upper East side,” and the fashion world’s home base for the exclusive annual Met Gala (A Forbes.com contributor described it as “The Upper East Side’s Boldest Luxe Secret”). The Times praised “razor sharp” service and noted that “the Mark has arguably never been a more prestigious stay than since its current owner, Alexico Group, reopened it in 2009 after giving it a daring revamp.”

But in terms of the Mark’s “World Cup 2026 Extravaganza Package,” this is the most important part of the Times review: “Suites are the real show-stoppers, with the most expensive penthouse (where Megan Markle hosted her baby shower in 2019) costing over £60,000 a night; at 10,000 sq ft it’s the biggest hotel penthouse in the US.” That footage is just the interior and does not include the 2,000-sqaure foot wrap around private terrace. It has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a library, oversized dining room and more, including private gym with cold plunge overlooking Manhattan’s skyline.

This is all key because it’s where you will stay—for four nights—if you buy the million dollar package.

Prices have gone up since the Dutchess of Sussex’ shindig, and today the Mark Penthouse goes for $100,000 a night, meaning $400,000 to stay there for four nights “normally.” But July 16-21 is not normal, it’s the finals of 2026 World Cup at New Jersey’s Met Life Stadium outside the city. The top two floors of the hotel will be “transformed into a private World Cup headquarters.” This combines the watch party concept with actual attendance and plenty of free time for Big Apple tourism.

The package is for six people in the Penthouse, with a dedicated 24/7 butler, and to fill downtime, a private scenic sailboat charter through New York harbor and past the Statue of Liberty for your party. In case you have personal assistants, nannies or bodyguards, they throw in two extra “regular” luxury hotel rooms, another eight nights of prime New York lodging. Because the penultimate game, for third place (after the semifinals), occurs during the stay, the Penthouse will be set up for a watch party with oversized televisions and lounge seating. As the sun sets, the terrace becomes “a private al fresco cocktail bar,” with included martinis and “lavish caviar service.”

But the main event is the World Cup Finals (which according to Forbes, Donald Trump will attend), with six midfield pitchside premium seats (like those going for around fifty grand on the secondary market) that feature access to a VIP lounge, “elevated hospitality,” and commemorative gifts. To make it all go smoothly, the roundtrip to MetLife Stadium for the big game is by traffic-free helicopter and uses a dedicated stadium entrance.

The bottom line is that this is the rare luxury World Cup hotel package that actually includes finals tickets, but a million dollars is still a million dollars, not peanuts. Yet, when you price it out this is a lot better than many seven figure “exclusive use” or “takeover” packages routinely floating around the luxury travel industry that don’t include a once in a lifetime Bucket List event. It obviously helps if you love soccer, have five friends you want to spoil and going to the game is important to you—and you can afford it. If not, there’s always the option to watch it on TV, which is what I am planning.