SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Bay Area is among the most affordable venues for those attending World Cup 2026 matches, according to a new report that runs counter to the region’s reputation for sky-high costs.
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The report by Skyscanner, a free global search engine for travel, sketches out a dynamic that bodes well for merchants and cities hoping for an economic boost similar to other major events that have taken place in recent months.
For its report, Skyscanner calculated one-way flight costs, average hotel prices and the three-night trip cost.
The Bay Area led others as the most affordable U.S. venue, according to Skyscanner, at a cost of $1,045 per person. Houston followed at $1,056 per person. Other cities include Los Angeles, at $1,272 per person; Dallas at $1,290 per person; Kansas City at $1,396 per person; Philadelphia at $1,460 per person; and Atlanta at $1,554 per person.
Other metro regions among the 10 most affordable areas, as reported by Skyscanner, include Guadalajara, Mexico, at $856 a person; Monterrey, Mexico, at $926 per person; and Mexico City at $1,186 per person.
Prices can fluctuate, the search engine cautioned.
Air travel is keeping costs relatively low in the Bay Area, according to the report.
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“Flight prices are competitive,” Skyscanner stated. “While hotels aren’t as affordable as some other host cities, they don’t spike much during the tournament months, keeping the overall trip cost reasonable.”
One-way flights to the Bay Area are averaging $170 per ticket ahead of the matches, while hotels have an average cost of $235 a night, according to Skyscanner.
Differing levels of enthusiasm for soccer in the various venues could play into demand for airline flights, hotel rooms, and short-term rentals, according to Skyscanner.
“Soccer culture varies wildly across the host cities,” Skyscanner stated.
Skyscanner didn’t list the Bay Area as a World Cup venue with elevated soccer passion.
“Mexico’s three host cities sit at the heart of one of the world’s most soccer-mad nations, while U.S. cities like Atlanta, Kansas City, and Los Angeles have built genuine soccer cultures over the past decade,” Skyscanner stated in the report.
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