2026 World Cup stadiums see steep food and drink prices

Attendees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America are facing significant sticker shock at stadium concession stands, where the price of a simple beer can exceed a day's wages in some host cities and extravagant dishes command premium prices. While the tournament's food and drink offerings range from local specialties to unique creations, the cost has become a point of contention, particularly for international visitors unaccustomed to North American sporting event pricing.

The disparity is most sharply felt with beverages. In Toronto, a German engineer, Thomas Schüller, paid 24.25 Canadian dollars (about $17) for a beer, calling the price unfair and noting it was triple what he would pay at home. Despite his complaint, he acknowledged the cost would not stop him from participating. In Mexico City, some beers were selling for between 299 and 310 pesos at the stadium, roughly equivalent to the local daily minimum wage of 315.04 pesos and about double the typical non-tournament price at the same venue.

Concession menus feature high-end items like a $75 caviar-topped tray of "tater tots" in Miami-actually deep-fried hash brown patties-and a $40, five-pound empanada. Other...