Football fans travelling from the UAE to attend the FIFA World Cup are facing sharply different costs, with some planning budget-conscious trips for around Dh12,000 and others spending well over Dh100,000 for premium match access, flights and accommodation. As the tournament takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, supporters say the final cost depends heavily on match tickets, hotel prices, domestic travel and visa arrangements.
For many fans, buying a match ticket is only the first step. Once flights, hotel stays, local transport and travel between host cities are included, the total can rise quickly. Premium matches, especially the final, are proving especially expensive, with hospitality packages reaching prices that are out of reach for many ordinary supporters.
Final Tickets Push Costs Higher
Dubai resident Atul Hegde, who plans to attend the final in New York on July 19, said hospitality tickets for the match are priced at around $17,000 to $18,000 per person and continue to increase. He added that some premium packages for the final can cost between $40,000 and $45,000, equivalent to roughly Dh147,000 to Dh165,000.
Accommodation has also become a major part of the overall cost. Hegde said hotel rooms in New York that usually cost around $600 to $800 per night are now being listed at much higher prices during the final period. Even standard four- or five-star hotels can cost around $1,500 per night, making accommodation one of the biggest expenses for fans travelling from the Emirates.
Domestic Travel Adds to the Bill
For experienced football fan Saibal Basu, who has attended previous World Cups, the 2026 tournament stands out as one of the most expensive. He has secured tickets for three matches, including two Round of 32 games and a quarter-final in Kansas, but says the biggest challenge is the scale of travel across North America.
Unlike the Qatar World Cup, where matches were concentrated in a much smaller area, this edition requires fans to travel between cities and sometimes across countries. Basu said international flights from the UAE were manageable, but domestic flights within the United States, including routes to Los Angeles and Kansas, have become expensive. Hotel prices in some host cities have also increased sharply.
Budget Trips Still Possible
Not every fan is spending six figures. Dubai resident Dr Niyas Khalid expects his trip to Canada to cost at least Dh12,000, making it one of the more affordable World Cup plans. He has already secured a long-term Canadian visa and also holds a US visa, but said flights and connecting routes remain costly and unpredictable.
For Khalid, airline tickets are the biggest expense, followed by match tickets. He said travel has become more complicated because connecting flights are expensive and schedules can be uncertain. Even so, careful planning and choosing a less expensive destination can still make attending the tournament possible for fans with smaller budgets.
Mexico Offers a More Affordable Option
Mohamed Elhag Ali Mohamed, who is travelling to Mexico to attend two Round of 32 matches, said his flights alone cost around Dh8,600. His first match ticket cost about Dh2,600, while accommodation in Mexico is expected to average roughly Dh300 per night.
He said Mexico was the best option for him compared with Canada and the United States because of entry requirements and overall costs. For UAE-based fans looking for a more affordable World Cup experience, Mexico may offer lower accommodation prices and fewer travel complications than some US host cities.
Fans Say the Experience Is Worth It
Despite the rising costs, fans say watching the World Cup live remains a unique experience. Dr Yassin Ibrahim, who is travelling with his children and grandchildren to attend the opening ceremony and Egypt matches, said the atmosphere inside the stadium cannot be compared with watching the games on television.
He said the mix of nationalities, fan traditions, sportsmanship, national clothing and songs creates an experience that is difficult to repeat. For many supporters, the emotional value of being at the World Cup outweighs the financial burden.
Final Outlook
For UAE residents, attending the FIFA World Cup can cost anywhere from around Dh12,000 for a carefully planned trip to more than Dh165,000 for premium hospitality experiences. Flights, accommodation, match tickets, visas and internal travel all play a major role in shaping the final budget.
The 2026 tournament’s spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico adds another layer of complexity, especially for fans attending matches in different cities. Still, for many football lovers in the Emirates, the chance to witness the World Cup live remains worth every dirham.