'Worth every penny': This is how much fans spent to attend the World Cup in L.A.

18 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. “Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday. The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price. Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites. The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams. As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared. Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellanos, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera sport Mexico gear. How much did you pay for your tickets? Diana: We don’t want to say because I don’t want our parents to know. *Whispers* We paid retail. It was like $500 per ticket. For Father’s Day, we wanted to make sure he got to enjoy it. Why did you want to attend the World Cup? Castellano: We went in ‘86 in Mexico, ‘94 in Pasadena and now here. We’re excited because I want to enjoy it with my kids. If we didn’t come, I would’ve been sad because they need to see how it is. Diana: Now, it’s our turn. Even though [today’s match] is not our country, we still had to come and experience it. We’ll watch our team play later on the big screen. Did you have to give up anything to be here? Diana: Work, but that doesn’t matter. This is more important. Time with family. Diana: It’s Thursday. We’re out here watching the game, we’re drinking, so there’s no complaints. Diana: Absolutely. No matter what happens today. The fact that we’re here, it’s already a success. Tell me about your outfit. You’re rocking Paisaboys, an L.A. brand. Diana: I got the Paisaboys shirt on, repping. I know they have a collaboration with Nike. I got my Nike shoes on and I’m just ready to have a good time. My mom sewed her top last night. She wanted to add a little touch to it. Angelica: Yes! This is an old, old, old jacket. Diana: My dad’s outfit is sponsored by me. All Adidas, Father’s Day gift. Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell. How much did you pay for tickets? Harrell: We went to two games: USA versus Paraguay [in Los Angeles] and Senegal versus France in New Jersey/New York. Chapman: The L.A. tickets were way more expensive. We bought them presale for like $1,940, but the [seats] were still very high in the arena and the resale prices are actually cheaper than the ones we bought on presale. It’s horrible. [Laughs] Why did you want to come to the World Cup? Chapman: This is my first men’s World Cup. I went to the women’s World Cup in Australia a couple years ago. The last time the U.S. had a men’s World Cup here was like forever ago. We’re probably not going to have another in our lifetime, so I really wanted to make sure we had a chance to go to some games. Did you have to give up anything to be here? Harrell: We’re moving the day we get back, so we were packing until the moment we got here. Some of this gear was last-minute purchasing in order to make that work. Also, we took a six-hour plane ride, middle seats. We really committed to get here. We got cat sitters, we both took days off from work, the whole thing. Chapman: Yeah, just for the experience. It’s more money than we would’ve wanted to pay but yeah. Harrell: We bought the tickets like a year and a half ago, so it’s been on the calendar forever. We ended up getting to bring my brother and his best friend to celebrate his 40th birthday, so it sort just worked out for all of us. Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage. How much did you pay for your ticket? Why did you want to attend the World Cup? Cambage: This is my first fútbol game ever. I wanted to come cause it’s L.A. Yay sports! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s get out there and get into it. Samimi: I’m born and raised in L.A. so I’m happy to see the World Cup here. Samimi: I’m wearing Honor the Gift, Russell Westbrook’s brand, a Nike top, my shorts are from a random boutique in L.A. and Jordan shoes. Cambage: I just went crazy at the Nike store. I’m not gonna lie. We just came from the Nike store. I’m reppin’ USA today. Yes, I am Australian, but I do live in America and USA is AUS. [Laughs] Bosnia and Herzegovina fans cheer on their team. How much did you pay for your ticket? I got mine directly through the FIFA website. We paid $500 a piece. I brought my son, my cousins and their kids. Why did you want to attend the World Cup? Sahbaz: This is our very first World Cup.

'Worth every penny': This is how much fans spent to attend the World Cup in L.A.

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'Worth every penny': This is how much fans spent to attend the World Cup in L.A.

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