Many fans view immersing themselves in the fervent atmosphere at stadiums during this year's World Cup as a unique experience, as it marks the return of the planet's most anticipated football tournament to North America since 1994.

This sentiment leads them to believe it is worthwhile to max out credit cards, deplete vacation funds, or defer financial investments for a few unforgettable weeks across the three host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Belgian fan Adam El Manawy is one such believer. In 2022, he drove his 1982 BMW, affectionately named "the Beast," from Brussels to Qatar to watch his national team compete in the World Cup.

Adam El Manawy stands next to the car he calls "the Beast" in a 2022 photo. California Post

This year, he shipped "the Beast" across the Atlantic to embark on a new World Cup journey, from Baltimore to Seattle, then to Los Angeles and Vancouver, to attend matches involving the Belgian team. For later rounds, he is prepared to travel wherever Belgium plays.

Considering current ticket prices, fuel costs, hotels, and food in the United States, if Belgium reaches the semifinals, El Manawy could spend between 12,000 and 15,000 USD on his World Cup experience this time.

"The extreme excitement you get from the World Cup is unlike anything else," he said.

El Manawy is not alone in his passion for the tournament. Luis Chavez and his wife, residents of Dallas, Texas, are also spending over 12,000 USD to watch games across the country.

However, many others are forced to miss out or enjoy the event in different ways. This is not due to a lack of passion for football, but simply because ticket prices for this year's matches are expensive.

Joe Connor, a San Diego resident, has traveled to 144 countries to watch football. He spent years hunting for cheap flights and budget hotels, meticulously saving every penny to maximize his experiences.

This time, however, he chose to watch the World Cup at home. Upon seeing the lowest ticket price for the opening World Cup match between the United States and Paraguay in Los Angeles was nearly 1,200 USD, Connor found no reason to spend the money.

"Do I want to go to the World Cup? Absolutely! But I won't pay that price. They're ridiculous," he said.

For many years, US football fans dreamed of hosting a World Cup. Now that the World Cup has returned to North America, many realize that while the tournament may be geographically closer than ever, it remains financially out of reach.

Fan Melvin Mendez celebrates after the US team scores while watching a match at a park in Oakland, California on 12/6. AP

Sean Riskowitz, who moved from South Africa to Pennsylvania, has consistently attended World Cup matches since 2010. This year, he purchased 13 tickets, including all six matches held in Philadelphia. Riskowitz stated that these tickets were "very expensive."

Ultimately, he decided to resell some tickets. A ticket for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, originally priced at 1,795 USD, was resold for double the price to a Mexican buyer, he said.

Fans from England also reported feeling the financial pressure weighing heavily on their football passion. Ted Bloomfield described this year's World Cup ticket prices as "ridiculous." Jed Macdonald, Bloomfield's friend, agreed, frankly calling the prices "a bit of a rip-off."

Nevertheless, Bloomfield believes the World Cup experience is still worth the cost. "It's very expensive, but the memories are worth it, right?" Bloomfield expressed.

Some other fans argue that the escalating costs of the 2026 World Cup are marginalizing many people.

"It's unfair. It's a shame," said Julia Riskowitz, a Philadelphia resident. "Football is a sport for fans and for everyone, it's sad that many people cannot attend live."

Thanh Tam (California Post, 6ABC)