How Much Does FIFA World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles Actually Cost for a Group

Your group chat says yes to the World Cup before anyone checks ticket prices. Everyone knows the matches will be expensive. What catches groups off guard is the accommodation surge in Inglewood—a 60% price bump for rooms that normally run $300 a night—and the fact that most of your group will be flying from different countries at different times.

We pulled real accommodation data from March 2026, current flight pricing from multiple regions, SoFi Stadium match pricing, and LA Metro transit costs. Here's what a 5–7 day trip to catch 2–3 group-stage matches actually costs for a group of 6.

The full cost breakdown

LA group-stage dates are June 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25. Ticket prices vary wildly: USA matches (June 12, June 25) run $560–$2,735 face value depending on category. Non-USA matches run $60–$620 face value. Secondary market prices vary widely, especially for USA matches.

Match tickets

The ticket price is the first thing everyone sees, and also the most variable. Your cost depends entirely on which matches your group attends.

Budget: $60–$215 per ticket (non-USA group-stage, face value)

Iran vs New Zealand (June 15), Switzerland vs a European playoff winner (June 18), or other non-USA group-stage matches range from $60 (Category 4) to $620 (Category 1) at face value, with mid-category seats around $215. Buy through FIFA's official ticketing and resale marketplace. The budget tier assumes 2 non-USA matches at mid-range face value (~$200 per ticket).

Mid-range: $300–$800 per ticket

You're either buying non-USA matches at mid-range face value or venturing into secondary market for a USA match. USA vs Paraguay (June 12) runs $560–$2,735 at face value depending on category, and starts around $1,046 on the secondary market. June 25 is also a USA match (vs a European playoff winner), though demand and resale prices are expected to be lower than the high-profile June 12 opener. Still, two of LA's five group-stage dates carry USA-level pricing. For a group willing to split the cost of one premium match and one cheaper non-USA match, you spend around $1,000 for 2 matches or $1,500 for 3, averaging roughly $500 per ticket.

Premium: $1,000–$3,100+ per ticket

USA matches in upper categories ($1,940–$2,735 face value) or on the secondary market ($1,046–$3,100+), plus hospitality packages through On Location. These include premium seating, food, and lounge access. A single USA match ticket alone can consume half your trip budget, which is why most international groups focus on non-USA group-stage matches unless someone in the group is a die-hard US supporter.

Purchase through official channels. FIFA.com is the primary source for face-value tickets; the official resale marketplace is available for sold-out matches. Official hospitality packages are sold through On Location. Secondary platforms like VividSeats are available for resale but add 10–20% in fees.

Accommodation

This is where location strategy saves or costs your group the most. Inglewood, closest to SoFi Stadium, surges 60% or more during World Cup matches. Culver City (8–10 miles) and Downtown LA (8–10 miles) stay more stable.

Budget: $100–$150/person per night

An economy Airbnb in Culver City or a basic hotel outside the hotspot zones runs $350–$450/night for a 2–3 bedroom. Divided among 6 people, that's about $60–$75 per night per person. Trade-off: you're 20–30 minutes from SoFi via Metro, and you'll need to coordinate timing to avoid arriving at the stadium when 100,000 others are.

East LA hotels also run budget rates ($120–$180/night standard pricing), and the neighborhood culture—taquerias, street murals, lively bar scene—makes the commute worth it for groups planning to explore beyond the stadium.

For 6 nights split among 6, budget groups should plan roughly $400 per person total on accommodation.

Mid-range: $250–$400/person per night

A 3-bedroom Airbnb in downtown Culver City or a mid-range hotel like The Shay (rooftop pool, ground-floor game room, Metro-adjacent) runs $600–$900/night at standard rates (event-week pricing may be higher). Divided among 6 people, that's $100–$150 per person per night. You get a kitchen, a common area, walkable neighborhood, and a 15–20 minute Metro ride to SoFi.

Book now if you're going. As of early March 2026, more than 70% of Inglewood short-term rentals are already booked for June 12 alone. Culver City and Downtown inventory remains available but prices are climbing.

For 6 nights split among 6, that works out to roughly $750 per person total on accommodation.

Premium: $500–$1,000/person per night

Inglewood during match days: expect $1,700–$3,000/night for a place that normally runs $600–$1,200. The surge is real. A $1,000/night normal rental becomes $10,000+ for two nights during the June 12 USA match. Alternatively, stay at a premium hotel like Hotel June in Culver City ($500–$900/night at standard rates—expect event-week markups) or a beach hotel in Santa Monica ($600–$1,200/night standard rates) and treat transit to the stadium as part of the experience.

The strategic move for premium groups: book in Culver City or Downtown (staying 3–5 miles out), absorb a $20–$30 Uber surge on match days, and save significantly on accommodation compared to Inglewood.

For 6 nights in Culver City split among 6, budget roughly $1,500 per person for premium accommodation.

Food & drink

Taco shops in East LA are the budget secret. A plate of carne asada tacos with a drink costs $8–$12. The same meal on Broadway or in a tourist zone costs $20–$30. Your neighborhood choice changes your food budget significantly.

Budget: $28/day per person

Breakfast at a local taqueria or café ($6–$8). Lunch at a taco shop in Boyle Heights or East LA ($8–$12). Dinner from a taco truck in your neighborhood ($10–$12). Minimal drinking. This requires some discipline—your group needs to treat tacos as breakfast and lunch, not tourist experiences.

Stock a kitchen if you book an Airbnb. $30/person buys three days of groceries: eggs, bread, rice, beans, coffee. Cook breakfast, eat lunch out, do one nice dinner. This is how budget groups hit $28/day.

Mid-range: $70/day per person

Breakfast at a casual café or from your Airbnb ($10–$12). Lunch mid-range—a sit-down place or a higher-end taco spot ($15–$20). Dinner at a real restaurant ($25–$35). Drinks: a couple beers or one cocktail per day ($8–$15). This is where most groups actually land. You're eating well, trying different neighborhoods, and not white-knuckling the budget every meal.

Two $14 cocktails a night for 6 nights is $168 before you've eaten. Alcohol is the category that blows mid-range budgets. Either embrace the spending or commit to pre-gaming at your Airbnb.

Premium: $145/day per person

Brunch somewhere nice ($25–$40). Lunch at your choice of venue ($30–$45). Dinner at a restaurant with a view or a chef you know ($50–$80 including wine and tip). Drinks: whatever you want. At this tier, you're not tracking it.

LA has excellent Mexican restaurants. Gwen (Hollywood, Michelin-starred California cuisine) is the splurge-tier dinner at higher price points. For something more casual, Bestia (Downtown, Italian-ish, $40–$70/person) fills a night. Guisados in Boyle Heights is a taco institution—handmade corn tortillas, authentic preparation—and worth a pilgrimage ($4–$5 per taco).

Getting there

This category splits by region. International flights dominate this line item. Within-US groups pay a fraction.

International flights

Europe to Los Angeles: $350–$600 round-trip in June 2026 (peak World Cup demand). Asia to LA: $600–$900 (extended flight times, geopolitical airspace closures adding premium). Book 2–3 months in advance for best pricing.

US domestic flights

East Coast to LA: $300–$500. West Coast is lucky—drive or fly short-haul for $180–$250.

Airport transfers (LAX to SoFi)

Metro C/K Line from LAX to Inglewood/Downtown: $1.75 per ride (within the $5 daily cap). The SoFi Stadium shuttle from the nearby Metro station is free on match days. Uber/Lyft: $35–$60 (surge pricing likely on match days). The Metro option is the signature LA World Cup move—different from Vegas or Miami, cheaper, and faster than expected. Your group lands, gets a day pass, takes the light rail for 45 minutes, and is in Inglewood by evening.

Getting around

LA Metro is cheap and designed for this trip. One-way fare is $1.75. A daily cap is $5. A 7-day pass is $18. A 7-day Metro pass tops out at $18 per person—or $5/day with fare capping. The higher transit totals below are driven almost entirely by rideshare.

Budget: $180 per person (6 days)

Daily Metro cap ($5/day × 6 days = $30). Rideshare fill-in for hotel to stadium, downtown exploration, late-night rides home (6–8 rides × $20 avg = $120–$160). This requires planning—don't call an Uber at 11pm on match day expecting normal pricing. Surge pricing is common after 10pm, typically adding 25–75% above base rates on match days.

Mid-range: $330 per person

Mix of Metro daily caps and rideshare. Hotel to stadium twice (match days): $40–$60. Downtown exploration and neighborhood crawls: 4–5 rides × $25 = $100–$125. Late-night surge rides: $60–$80. Buffer for unexpected trips: $50–$100.

Premium: $510 per person

Don't track rides. Rideshare from hotel to stadium, to bars, back to hotel. Surge pricing? Doesn't matter. You spend roughly $80–$120 on rideshare per day for 6 days, plus Metro as backup.

Other costs you might forget

Travel insurance: $40–$100/person

For international travelers, medical coverage ($50–$150 for a 6–8 day trip) and trip cancellation ($80–$200) add up. InSubuy and AXA Travel offer World Cup–specific policies. Not required, but a June match day injury or flight cancellation will cost more than the insurance.

Stadium merchandise: $50–$100/person

Jerseys ($60–$150), scarves ($25–$40), hats ($20–$35), pins ($5–$15). Someone in your group will walk out with a $120 jersey. Account for it.

Pre-trip supplies: $30–$50/person

Sunscreen (LA sun is real), comfortable shoes (stadium walking), casual clothes. One group member will suggest a store run two days before departure and suddenly you're splitting a $200 Target haul.

Contingency buffer: 10–15% of subtotal

Unexpected Ubers, a last-minute dinner upgrade, tips, currency exchange (if anyone's carrying cash for international purchases). Build it in now rather than dip into credit cards mid-trip.

Looking ahead

Los Angeles hosts eight matches at SoFi Stadium: five group-stage (June 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25), two Round of 32, and one quarterfinal. The cheapest path is catching 2–3 non-USA matches and spending the other days exploring LA. Boyle Heights for murals and taquerias. Downtown LA for nightlife. Santa Monica for beach time between matches.

If your group is actually going—and June group-stage matches still have availability as of March 2026—start booking accommodation and locking in flights now. Accommodation in Culver City and Downtown LA may rise further as inventory tightens. Flights from Europe and Asia are already 15–20% above off-season rates.

Looking at other FIFA World Cup host cities? Check out our FIFA World Cup 2026 NYC cost guide and FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami cost guide.

Planning your own World Cup trip? Start a YAAT group and let us handle the math. [Start a group →]

How the three tiers actually feel

Most international groups land mid-range. You get a bed, a kitchen to save on breakfast, enough cash to buy drinks without tracking, and time to see neighborhoods beyond the stadium corridor.

How groups keep it together

Designate one person to book accommodation early. Inglewood is gone. Culver City and Downtown LA still have inventory, but prices climb weekly. Have that person take deposits from everyone and confirm payment before they book. Waiting until May is waiting too long.

Agree on the match strategy upfront. A USA match ticket runs $560–$2,735 face value or $1,046–$3,100+ on the secondary market. A non-USA match is $60–$620 face value. Everyone needs to agree whether you're splitting one premium match or doing all budget matches. This conversation now prevents resentment later.

Set a shared transit and food kitty: $50–$75/person. Put it toward shared Ubers to the stadium, breakfast groceries, group meals. Way easier than splitting every $18 taco.

Confirm flight arrival/departure dates early. International groups almost always stagger. One person arrives June 10, another June 12, someone leaves June 22, someone else June 27. Clarify who's covering which nights of accommodation. Split by actual nights slept, not by some rough average.

Log shared expenses as they happen. Someone books the Airbnb ($1,800), buys groceries ($150), pays for a group dinner ($180). Use YAAT or Venmo to track each one. Don't wait until Sunday night—that's when the spreadsheet drama starts.

The bottom line

A World Cup trip to LA is dominated by two cost levers: which matches you attend and where you sleep. A single USA match ticket can cost more than your entire accommodation budget. Non-USA group-stage matches at face value keep the trip accessible.

The accommodation surge in Inglewood is real, but staying in Culver City or Downtown LA—15–20 minutes from SoFi by Metro—saves significantly without sacrificing the experience. Metro is cheap ($18 for a 7-day pass), and the SoFi shuttle is free on match days. Rideshare is what actually drives transit costs.

If your group is going, lock in accommodation and flights now. Culver City and Downtown inventory is still available as of March 2026, but it may tighten as the tournament approaches.

Looking at other FIFA World Cup host cities? Check out our FIFA World Cup 2026 NYC cost guide and FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami cost guide.