The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout stage, promising more thrilling experiences for the spectators. However, the match viewing experience is not solely about the game itself, as various factors inside and outside the stadium can contribute to both positive and negative perceptions. Complaints about “outrageously expensive beer prices” have been voiced by many fans. The latest comprehensive evaluation of the viewing experience ranks the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as the second worst among 11 venues in the United States.
According to a recent study on fan experience conducted by ticketing expert Seatpick, the SoFi Stadium received the lowest overall score among the 11 venues. This study compared seven cost-related factors such as ticket prices, beverage prices, hotel room rates, summer temperature sensation, violent crime rate, and risk of mosquito bites and complaints as the “vibrancy” indicators based on public data from June.
With a maximum score of 10, the SoFi Stadium in the mild climate of Los Angeles scored only 5.82. Factors contributing to the low score include the highest risk of mosquito bites, with Los Angeles dubbed the “Mosquito Capital” of the U.S.; a beer sold for $14, and bottled water priced at $7 per bottle; hotel prices reaching up to $383 per night; and a relatively higher crime rate, with a violent crime rate of 729 cases per 100,000 people in the surrounding areas.
During the matches, the stadium’s signature food item, the “Twinkie” cheeseburger (featuring a bacon-wrapped Mexican chili pepper stuffed with braised beef and cream cheese) was priced at $22. International fans have expressed astonishment at beer prices sometimes exceeding $20 per bottle, triple the price they would pay domestically.
Another California venue, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, ranked fifth with a score of 7.48; however, its beverage prices also raised eyebrows. Pictures of food prices posted by stadium spectators on social media revealed craft beer priced at $24.50 per bottle, cocktails ranging from $21 to $37, water priced the same as at SoFi Stadium at $7 per bottle, and a Polish hot dog selling for $11.
Ranking second to last is the Houston Stadium, with a fan experience score of 5.96. Criticisms include the highest local violent crime rate and unusually high summer temperatures, with an average heat sensation of 117 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing all other venues.
The third-worst ranking goes to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With beer priced at $13 per bottle, water at $7 per bottle, and accommodation prices soaring to an astonishing $593 per night (placing it second in terms of expense), the stadium’s overall score is 6.32.
The best stadium in terms of experience is the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with a score of 8.08. Here, beverage prices are more affordable, the risk of mosquito bites is lower, and summer temperatures are relatively moderate. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, ranking third, maintained normal prices for beverages and food items during the World Cup: pizza slices for $3 each, 32 oz. sodas for $4, cheeseburgers for $5, chicken strips with fries for $6, and beer starting at $8.
Beer consumption has traditionally been a catalyst during World Cup matches. Based on a six-year study by the U.S. investment bank Jefferies, it is predicted that due to an increase in matches and days in this season, global beer sales will increase by an additional 1 billion pints, exceeding the original forecast by 568 million liters, equivalent to a 0.3% growth in total annual beer sales. According to the latest economic research from the New Beer Institute, in the two weeks leading up to the World Cup, beer sales at Californian establishments increased by 17.9% compared to previous years, with an overall beer consumption growth of 3.1%.