'worth Every Penny': This Is How Much Fans Spent To Attend The World Cup In L.a.

“Do you person an other ticket?” a man shouted extracurricular SoFi Stadium past Thursday.

The World Cup has been drafting fans from astir nan globe. But for many, getting a spot successful nan stadium has travel astatine a steep price.

Some were fortunate capable to nab $400 to $500 tickets done charismatic World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to drawback nan action IRL. Tickets for nan upcoming USA versus Turkey lucifer were trading for much than $1,400 connected resale sites.

The request has been truthful precocious that authorities person been informing fans astir really to avoid summons scams.

As crowds flocked into nan stadium, we asked attendees astir really overmuch they paid to get into nan most-watched sporting arena successful nan world. Here’s what they shared.

Their responses person been lightly edited for magnitude and clarity.

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellano, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera of Orange County

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellanos, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera athletics Mexico gear.

How overmuch did you salary for your tickets?

Diana: We don’t want to opportunity because I don’t want our parents to know.

*Whispers* We paid retail. It was for illustration $500 per ticket. For Father’s Day, we wanted to make judge he sewage to bask it.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Castellano: We went successful ‘86 successful Mexico, ‘94 successful Pasadena and now here. We’re excited because I want to bask it pinch my kids. If we didn’t come, I would’ve been sad because they request to spot really it is.

Diana: Now, it’s our turn. Even though [today’s match] is not our country, we still had to travel and acquisition it. We’ll watch our squad play later connected nan large screen.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Diana: Work, but that doesn’t matter. This is much important. Time pinch family.

Luis Jr.: Sleep. [Laughs]

Diana: It’s Thursday. We’re retired present watching nan game, we’re drinking, truthful there’s nary complaints.

Was it worthy it?

Diana: Absolutely. No matter what happens today. The truth that we’re here, it’s already a success.

Tell maine astir your outfit. You’re rocking Paisaboys, an L.A. brand.

Diana: I sewage nan Paisaboys garment on, repping. I cognize they person a collaboration pinch Nike. I sewage my Nike shoes connected and I’m conscionable fresh to person a bully time. My mom sewed her apical past night. She wanted to adhd a small touch to it.

Angelica: Yes! This is an old, old, aged jacket.

Diana: My dad’s outfit is sponsored by me. All Adidas, Father’s Day gift.

Luis Sr.: I sewage fortunate this year.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell of Washington, D.C.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell.

How overmuch did you salary for tickets?

Harrell: We went to 2 games: USA versus Paraguay [in Los Angeles] and Senegal versus France successful New Jersey/New York.

Chapman: The L.A. tickets were measurement much expensive. We bought them presale for for illustration $1,940, but nan [seats] were still very precocious successful nan arena and nan resale prices are really cheaper than nan ones we bought connected presale. It’s horrible. [Laughs]

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

Chapman: This is my first men’s World Cup. I went to nan women’s World Cup successful Australia a mates years ago. The past clip nan U.S. had a men’s World Cup present was for illustration everlastingly ago. We’re astir apt not going to person different successful our lifetime, truthful I really wanted to make judge we had a chance to spell to immoderate games.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Harrell: We’re moving nan time we get back, truthful we were packing until nan infinitesimal we sewage here. Some of this cogwheel was last-minute purchasing successful bid to make that work. Also, we took a six-hour level ride, mediate seats. We really committed to get here. We sewage feline sitters, we some took days disconnected from work, nan full thing.

Was it worthy it?

Chapman: Yeah, conscionable for nan experience. It’s much money than we would’ve wanted to salary but yeah.

Harrell: We bought nan tickets for illustration a twelvemonth and a half ago, truthful it’s been connected nan almanac forever. We ended up getting to bring my relative and his champion friend to observe his 40th birthday, truthful it benignant conscionable worked retired for each of us.

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage of Los Angeles

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Cambage: Nothing. Sorry.

Samimi: We were blessed.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Cambage: This is my first fútbol crippled ever. I wanted to travel origin it’s L.A. Yay sports! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s get retired location and get into it.

Samimi: I’m calved and raised successful L.A. truthful I’m happy to spot nan World Cup here.

Tell maine astir your outfit inspiration.

Samimi: I’m wearing Honor nan Gift, Russell Westbrook’s brand, a Nike top, my shorts are from a random boutique successful L.A. and Jordan shoes.

Cambage: I conscionable went crazy astatine nan Nike store. I’m not gonna lie. We conscionable came from nan Nike store. I’m reppin’ USA today. Yes, I americium Australian, but I do unrecorded successful America and USA is AUS. [Laughs]

Kenan Sahbaz of St. Louis and family

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans cheer connected their team.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

I sewage excavation straight done nan FIFA website. We paid $500 a piece. I brought my son, my cousins and their kids.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Sahbaz: This is our very first World Cup. It’s a historical arena for our very mini country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is simply a immense accomplishment successful nan past 12 years. This is going to beryllium nan first clip we’ve made it present again. We’ve sewage a really bully squad and I deliberation we tin do immoderate astonishing things for our country. This is simply a clip erstwhile we really request immoderate support and joyousness successful nan country, and nary amended measurement to do it than astatine nan World Cup.

Who’s your favourite player?

Kids: Džeko.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Sahbaz: A lot. Work. Time. We were initially going to spell connected picnic to nan Bahamas, but I asked him either nan Bahamas aliases nan World Cup. So erstwhile we recovered retired that we made it, it was nan World Cup. We canceled everything else. We moreover went to nan qualifiers successful Wales and that was a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition arsenic well. There was conscionable nary measurement we were going to miss it.

Was it worthy it?

Sahbaz: 100%. Win aliases lose, we still triumph today.

Daniel Henriquez and David Njenga of Seattle

David Njenga, left, sports Kenya gear, while Daniel Henriquez cheers for El Salvador.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Henriquez: This lucifer was $500 each. We bought it successful for illustration October of past year.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Njenga: Because this is nan World Cup. You person to spell to a World Cup. This is my 2nd one. I was successful Qatar for nan past World Cup.

Henriquez: The energy! World Cup baby!

Njenga: There’s group from each complete nan world. We are each assembled present to bask this moment.

Henriquez: This is what happens erstwhile each nan world comes together. This is our utopia. We each emotion each other. We’re each present for 1 thing, to support our country.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Njenga: My job. I person to beryllium astatine activity correct now, but I took nan time off. I don’t mind.

Henriquez: I’m a caregiver for nan occurrence department. My leader was awesome. She gave maine a time off. I emotion my leader Nancy. Go Nancy!

Was it worthy it?

Njenga: It is worthy each penny. It’s not moreover nan money. It’s nan experience. After this, we caput to San Francisco for different game.

Henriquez: Then we’re heading to Vancouver and past we person different crippled successful Seattle.

Njenga: We’re going to six games [in total]. Our Houston tickets were nan cheapest. They were astir $400.

Cindy Vazquez of Grenada Hills

Cindy Vazquez Zavala reps Mexico pinch her outfit.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

It was free.99. Shh!

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. The Jordan squad invited maine to be this game, truthful fortunate me. That’s why I’m wearing Jordans today. I’m successful nan manufacture truthful they invited a fewer labor from vicinity stores to come.

Tell america astir your outfit inspiration.

Today there’s a Mexico game, truthful I still gotta rep moreover though I’m attending this lucifer [Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina]. The outfit is simply a Nike T90 jersey and my lace is from Amazon. I sewage nan small [soccer] ball, nan small World Cup and teddy carnivore from nan state station. I needed it.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

I really had to petition PTO to attend, but nan shop is still moving without me. Right aft this game, I really person to pitchy back. I activity astatine Feature, which is simply a sneaker boutique successful Studio City. S/O Feature for allowing maine to travel here!

Fabian Almiron of Spain

Fabian Almiron, primitively from Paraguay but presently surviving successful Spain, rides Metro to nan game.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

I paid $1,100 for nan first crippled [June 12], $290 for nan Turkey crippled [June 19] and nan past crippled pinch Australia was $170 [June 25].

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. I unrecorded successful Spain, but I’m rooting for Paraguay. I’m very excited to beryllium seeing them participate aft 16 years.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

I utilized for illustration 20 to 25 days of picnic clip to travel spot nan World Cup.

Was it worthy it?

Yes!

Sunny Kwong, Sam Mallari, Antonio Evangelista, Michael Evangelista of San Diego and Los Angeles

Antonio Evangelista, Sam Mallari, Michael Evangelista and Sunny Kwong are decked retired successful Bosnia and Herzegovina gear.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Michael: We paid $400 each. We sewage fortunate pinch nan past chance lottery. They released nan tickets a fewer months ago.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Michael: We’re rooting for Bosnia this time. This is our first World Cup.

Antonio: It’s a lifelong dream. I’ve loved nan athletics ever since I was successful nan Philippines.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Michael: Most of america had nan time off. I worked successful nan greeting astatine for illustration 6 a.m. and past I’m going to activity afterward. I really wanted to carve retired clip to beryllium there.

Mallari: I took clip disconnected because this is my first shot crippled ever and I wanted to acquisition nan World Cup pinch existent fans.

Was it worthy it?

Michael: 100%. It’s honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s been awesome to beryllium present pinch my dad. We watched nan past World Cup finals and we were virtually successful tears. I cognize he’s been playing shot ever since he was successful nan Philippines military.

Antonio: 20 years.

Becky Clift of Orange County and William Wagner of San Diego

Colleagues William Wagner and Becky Clift athletics accepted show inspired outfits to cheer connected Switzerland.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Clift: They were talented to us.

Wagner: We’re a fortunate group.

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

Clift: The World Cup successful America is ace fun, truthful we wanted to support it and beryllium a portion of it. This was nan crippled that we sewage tickets for, truthful we decided to dress up a small spot and person immoderate fun.

Wagner: We’re some shot people. We some speak nan world’s language, truthful we’re happy to beryllium a portion of it here.

Tell maine astir your outfit inspiration.

Wagner: I person a very adjacent Swiss friend who was equipped for this. One speedy telephone telephone and present I am.

Clift: Then I had to get excavation truthful I could support.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Wagner: A afloat time of work. We’re some engineers. We cognize each different done work.

Was it worthy it?

Wagner: We’ll find out.

Clift: Heck yeah!

Jorge Morales of Topanga

Jorge Morales holds retired a shot he sewage astatine nan World Cup opener successful Mexico City.

How overmuch did you salary for tickets?

It was betwixt $800 to $900 for my USA versus Paraguay tickets. I bought them done Seat Geek.

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

I wanted to acquisition it not conscionable successful Los Angeles, but I besides wanted to acquisition it successful Mexico. I’m going to 3 games successful Los Angeles and 4 successful Mexico City. Going to my first World Cup successful Mexico City was a full different ballgame. Mexico played successful their location state and they won. It was for illustration pandemonium. Even though it was raining complete location astatine nan time, it was still a batch of fun. Everyone was hugging each other. I’m looking astatine you, New York Knicks fans. [Laughs]

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

I’m utilized to traveling, truthful I’m for illustration this ain’t nothing. I conscionable wanted to acquisition a World Cup crippled and nan truth that it’s successful 3 countries, you’re not going to acquisition that immoderate different time. It’s nan 1 and only World Cup wherever you’re going to spot 3 countries hosting it.

Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness of San Diego

Switzerland fans Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Ian: $450 per ticket.

Alexi: We won nan summons lottery. That’s nan only measurement ‘cause nan resale is expensive.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Marcella: This is our first World Cup!

Ian: I was astatine nan Switzerland versus Qatar game. Similar outfit. We sewage it dialed this time. Lots of fun. Tough ending, but what are you going to do?

Luke: We wanted to support Switzerland. Everyone successful nan family is Swiss. It’s nosy to spell to a World Cup game. We were conscionable excited to get tickets. I deliberation it’s a awesome measurement for nan family to walk clip together and a bully excuse to get retired of work.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Luke: Time disconnected work. Time to travel here. We drove up here. I don’t deliberation we gave up much. We conscionable bask being here.

Ian: $450.

Alexi: And we woke up astatine 5 a.m., truthful that we could travel up present and walk nan time together.

Was it worthy it?

All: Yes!

Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic, Armin Kapic of Los Angeles

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic and Armin Kapic.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Nordin: $3,000. We’re for illustration virtually connected nan field.

Anja: $450. In L.A., we sewage it for illustration that.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Anja: This is our 2nd clip ever qualifying for nan World Cup. We are truthful proud to beryllium present and support our state today.

Nordin: I mean, look around. Why would you not want to beryllium present today?

Armin: We’re hoping for nan win!

All: 2-0!

Bendicht Hügli and Lucia Grajales of Mexico City

Lucia Grajales and Bendicht Hugli, some presently surviving successful Mexico City, clasp a Swiss flag.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Hügli: The summons was $650. That’s stealing. That’s robbery. When I went successful ‘86, I deliberation nan tickets were 10% of nan value I paid for this year.

Why did you want to be nan World Cup?

Hügli: I had immoderate business successful San Diego. I saw Switzerland is going to beryllium here, truthful let’s deed it and break nan slope to get tickets. I went to nan World Cup successful Mexico City successful ’86. I saw 12 games. I’m going to 1 this time.

Was it worthy it?

Hügli: We’ll see. If Switzerland plays lousy, past I’m going to beryllium pissed, but I deliberation they’ll do amended than successful nan first game.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia of Washington, D.C.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia guidelines for Paraguay.

How overmuch did you salary for your ticket?

Isidoro: I deliberation it was astir $500 per ticket. Again, we were very fortunate because Paraguay was nan first game.

Flavia: It was early vertebrate without knowing who was going to play.

Isidoro: We’re besides going to nan Paraguay versus Turkey crippled successful San Francisco and nan 3rd 1 successful Mexico City.

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

Flavia: We’re rooting for Paraguay. I’m from Paraguay, calved and raised.

Isidoro: This is my 2nd World Cup. I went to nan 1 successful Qatar. We were very excited astir it. Actually, we were very fortunate excessively because we bought Paraguay’s tickets erstwhile they were trading them blank. So we conscionable bought nan 3 tickets for Paraguay earlier knowing nan group shape and past it turned retired to beryllium successful nan U.S., truthful it was awesome.

Flavia: We were hoping it would beryllium connected nan East Coast because that’s wherever we unrecorded and it ended up being connected nan different broadside of nan country, but we already had nan tickets and we really wanted to spell to a game, truthful we flew. We’re coming consecutive from nan airport. We person our 5-month-old babe who is astatine nan edifice pinch my mom.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

Isidoro: I conjecture clip pinch our daughter. Even though it’s only going to beryllium a fewer hours, we miss her a lot. She’s very tiny. Every [moment] is precious pinch her.

Was it worthy it?

Isidoro: Yes, moreover though it’s a fewer hours and hopefully Paraguay will propulsion it off.

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles.

How overmuch did you salary for tickets?

For nan USA versus Paraguay ticket, I deliberation I paid for illustration $1,800, and for different match, I deliberation I paid astir $1,020, truthful a small less. I deliberation that’s erstwhile nan prices started to spell down.

Why did you want to travel to nan World Cup?

I’ve ever wanted to go. I missed my chance to spell to Brazil successful 2014. I really wanted to go, but I had conscionable taken a immense travel to Asia, truthful I couldn’t really go. I didn’t person immoderate money near and I’ve been reasoning astir nan World Cup being present since it was awarded to nan U.S. I was really bummed retired erstwhile it was awarded to Qatar alternatively of nan U.S. and besides alternatively of Australia. I’m really excited astir it. It feels unreal.

What does it mean for nan World Cup to beryllium successful your hometown?

It intends truthful much. I retrieve erstwhile they had it present successful ‘94. I didn’t get a chance to spell to immoderate of nan games, but nan power that you consciousness astir nan metropolis is for illustration adjacent level. The events they’ve been hosting are truthful awesome. You get to meet much group from different walks of life and different countries.

Did you person to springiness up thing to beryllium here?

I conscionable beautiful overmuch had to prime up much debt, but I get points truthful it’ll thief alert somewhere. Also, indebtedness disappears erstwhile you dice truthful they tin effort coming aft maine for that World Cup money, but they ne'er will. [Laughs]

Was it worthy it?

I looked astatine nan value and was like, “It’ll ne'er beryllium this inexpensive successful my life, ever.” It’s only ever going to spell up, and, hey, it’s successful my backyard.