The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrived in Mexico this week and the high cost of attending the matches has forced most fans to resort to credit cards, personal loans and interest-free installments to finance the experience. 

A survey by debt management firm Bravo revealed that Mexican fans attending a soccer match at a stadium may spend between 30,000 and 60,000 pesos (US $1,744 and $3,489) on match tickets, transportation, lodging, food and souvenirs.  

“To specifically cover the cost of tickets to matches, credit cards and loans play a fundamental role,” Bravo said.

According to the survey, 38% of respondents paid their expenses with debit cards, cash or planned savings, while the remaining 62% resorted to financing options.

Of the latter, Bravo noted that 31% of participants used their credit cards to spread the payment over monthly installments, while 25% opted to pay the full amount with their credit card in a single transaction, hoping to settle the balance by their next billing date. 

Lastly, 6% chose to take out a personal loan.

It’s no surprise that fans have to resort to financing options, as ticket prices have skyrocketed by up to 584% compared to the 2024 World Cup in Qatar. But resorting to credit to pay for entertainment often brings future worries for consumers, Bravo said.

Indeed, 43% of respondents acknowledged a real risk of generating new debt in the aftermath of the World Cup – even more so when these expenses aren’t limited to Mexico, as 55% of respondents plan to travel to the United States or Canada to experience live matches, Bravo reported. 

Meanwhile, of those respondents staying in Mexico, 27% said they are willing to spend at least 10,000 pesos (US $581) to experience the World Cup in their home country, while 27% said they expect to spend between 6,000 and 10,000 pesos ($348 and $581). The remaining 46% plan to spend between 3,000 and 999 pesos ($174 and $58) to experience the sporting event.

“Since Mexico is one of the host countries, it will be experienced with great intensity from home, restaurants, or local events,” Bravo acknowledged.

But not everything is about spending, as 48% of respondents said they would take advantage of the tournament to generate extra income, either through business opportunities or alternative jobs that would allow them to balance their finances and cope with the expenses associated with the sporting event.

With reports from La Jornada