Thanks to its blue-collar past, Philadelphia presents itself as the most cost-effective host city for the 2026 FIFA (International Football Federation) World Cup, while other cities are criticized for their exorbitant prices.
The city that made famous Rocky Balboa, the beloved boxer played on the big screen by Sylvester Stallone, is proud to have affordable transport, accommodation and meals.
Their prices appear to be a welcome relief, especially after the New Jersey Transportation Authority’s controversial decision to increase train fares eightfold, to $105, for spectators going to MetLife Stadium on the outskirts of New York.
In contrast, anyone going to watch the games at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, will pay just US$2.90 (R$14.20) for a subway ticket (one way). The return will be free, thanks to an agreement with Airbnb.
“We want to ensure that transport remains accessible and reasonably priced for fans. If we charge exorbitant prices for transport, we will exclude an entire segment of the population”, explained vice-mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley to AFP.
Eleven American cities will host World Cup games, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament starts on June 11th and ends on July 19th.
Hotel for almost R$2,000
Fears of very high costs led FIFA to announce an additional budget of US$100 million (R$490 million) to help the 48 participating teams cover their costs, after the federations expressed their concern about possible financial losses.
The high ticket prices, much higher than in Qatar in 2022, angered fans who already face significant costs, especially in the megacities of New York and Los Angeles.
For fans without tickets, Philadelphia will offer a free “fan festival” throughout the World Cup. Every day, 15 thousand people will be able to watch the games, with food stalls and entertainment.
The city of 1.6 million people has long faced high crime rates, but authorities say homicides have dropped considerably in recent years.
In the final stretch before the start of the World Cup, Philadelphia is in a race against time, with construction underway in several areas and scaffolding still erected at the large 30th Street station, which is preparing to receive a large number of visitors.
But the city is confident it can make good use of the situation, while prices have soared elsewhere in the United States.
“You can still find a mid-range hotel in Philadelphia around the 4th of July for around US$400 a night, and US$200 for a basic room,” says Anne Ryan, assistant secretary of the Pennsylvania State Department of Tourism.
Although high, prices are still lower than those charged in other host cities.
An investigation by The Athletic revealed that hotel rates in Houston rose 457% for the first World Cup game and 364% in Kansas City. In Philadelphia, the increase is still significant, but more moderate, at 198%.
Million-dollar economic impact
Anne Ryan guarantees that “there will be no abusive prices in hotels” and considers that Philadelphia offers the best value for money in the United States.
“There is simply no comparison,” he says.
“Philadelphia is a working city, a strong city, a working-class city, and we are very proud of that,” said Meg Kane, responsible for organizing the competition in the first capital that the United States had.
The city has a gastronomic scene that “caters for all price levels”, he emphasizes, allowing “people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to experience the World Cup here”.
The route from the city, located between New York and Washington, to the New Jersey stadium, which will host eight games, including the final, is also “often much easier to travel” than from Manhattan, she guarantees.
Philadelphia will host six games at its newly renovated stadium, including a round of 16 match on July 4, when the United States celebrates Independence Day.
In total, organizers estimate that the tournament should attract around 500,000 visitors to the metropolitan region, divided equally between American and foreign tourists.
According to consultancy Econsult, the major football event is expected to generate an economic impact of US$700 million (R$3.4 billion) for the region.
