For every soccer fan emptying their savings account to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is another staring at the same ticket prices and making a different calculation. 

Not because they love the game any less. But simply because they refuse to be taken for a ride. 

The World Cup returns to North America this summer for the first time since 1994, spreading across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For many supporters, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. The kind of experience that justifies maxing out a credit card, draining the vacation fund, or postponing financial investments for a few unforgettable weeks.

Belgian superfan Adam El Manawy is one of those believers. 

In 2022, he drove his 1982 BMW he affectionately calls “The Beast” from Brussels to Qatar to watch his beloved Red Devils play in the World Cup.

This year, he shipped “The Beast” across the Atlantic to start another World Cup pilgrimage. Baltimore to Seattle. Seattle to Los Angeles. Los Angeles to Vancouver. Then wherever Belgium’s journey takes him next. 

The 35-year-old hospitality worker, who moonlights as an actor and director, booked a one-way ticket to Baltimore where he picked up his car and hit the open road. The California Post sat down for an exclusive interview with El Manawy and also made a projection of his costs. 

Based on the current prices of tickets, gas, hotels and foods across the United States, if Belgium were to reach the semifinals, El Manawy could spend between $12,000 and $15,000 for his adventure.

But for El Manawy, the World Cup isn’t just about soccer. It’s about storytelling. He documents his entire trip on his Instagram account and YouTube channel.

“The adrenaline you get from the World Cup, it’s unlike anything else,” he said.

He’s not alone, either. 

The Post met a Manhattan banking executive whose family is spending nearly $22,000 on World Cup tickets alone this year. Four years ago, they shelled out more than $35,000 for an all-inclusive Qatar package. 

Dallas resident Luis Chavez and his wife are spending more than $12,000 to celebrate their 40th birthdays while following matches across the country. 

Many people will call these fans crazy, but they aren’t. They’re chasing memories and embarking upon journeys they will talk about for decades. 

That’s what makes the World Cup so special, it’s always inspired ambition and devotion. 

But there’s another side to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that’s also part of the conversation. 

The millions of diehard soccer fans across the globe that love the sport just as much, follow it obsessively, and travel just as extensively. And yet, the four-to-five figure ticket prices are simply too expensive to justify. 

One of those fans is San Diego resident Joe Connor. 

Connor has traveled to 144 countries to watch soccer. He proudly calls himself the “GOAT” of soccer sports tourism. He has spent years hunting down affordable flights, budget-friendly hotels, while trying to stretch every dollar in order to maximize experiences.

In other words, he’s exactly the kind of person FIFA should want inside its stadiums. 

Instead, he said he’ll be watching the World Cup from home. 

When Connor saw get-in prices for the United States’ World Cup opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles were approaching $1,200, he couldn’t justify it. 

“Do I want to go to the World Cup? Absolutely!” Connor told the California Post. “But I’m not going to pay those prices. They’re just ridiculous.”

That’s not the voice of a casual fan. That’s the voice of a passionate soccer fan that is being priced out of the market and there’s millions just like him. 

The irony is hard to miss.

For years, American soccer supporters dreamed of hosting another World Cup. They packed supporter sections. They woke up at dawn for European matches. They traveled across continents following clubs and countries.

Now that the World Cup is finally back on home soil, many are discovering the tournament may be physically closer than ever while financially farther away than it’s ever been.

On Wednesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said fans like Connor “should chill” when it came to the extravagant ticket prices. He pointed to the price of tickets for the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks as an example of how other major sporting events in the United States also see a surge in prices. 

But Connor and many other fans understand that a World Cup ticket isn’t competing against other American sporting events. 

It’s competing against life.

For the cost of one premium World Cup ticket, a traveler can book multiple international flights. They can watch Copa América matches in Argentina and Brazil. Experience derby days in England. Or scout future World Cup host cities in Morocco, Spain and Portugal ahead of the 2030 tournament. 

When presented with those choices, fans aren’t rejecting soccer. They’re rejecting the economics surrounding it. 

Ticket prices have fallen in recent weeks, and if they continue to drop, Connor said he’d reconsider.

“Maybe if the prices drop, or I can get a good deal on tickets,” he said.

Until then, he’ll watch the same way he first fell in love with the sport.

On television.

And honestly, he may represent the largest group of World Cup supporters in America.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters