The biggest surprise around the 2026 World Cup is not on the field. It is the price tag attached to food and drinks at host venues, where some items are drawing as much attention as the matches themselves.
At stadiums across North America, fans are finding everything from a $75 tray of potato croquettes topped with caviar to a $22 cheeseburger called the “Twinkie” burger. www.telemundo.com reported that the menu choices are already becoming part of the tournament conversation, especially because beer can top $20 in some venues.
What fans are paying for inside the stadiums
The Miami venue is home to the most expensive item highlighted in the report: the “Fancy AF Tots,” listed at $75. The dish is not a traditional croquette plate, but three fried shredded-potato cakes topped with caviar, crème fraîche, and chives.
For fans who only want the caviar, the price is still steep at $70. Another Miami offering, an empanada, was listed at $40 for a 5-pound version meant for sharing or for the boldest eaters.
| Item | Price | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fancy AF Tots with caviar | $75 | Miami |
| Caviar only | $70 | Miami |
| 5-pound empanada | $40 | Miami |
| Rib-eye tacos | $8 | Guadalajara |
| “Twinkie” cheeseburger | $22 | Los Angeles |
Why some fans are complaining
Many of the prices may not shock regular American sports fans, who are used to spending heavily at NFL games or college football stadiums. But international visitors are reacting differently, especially when beer costs more than $20 at some sites.
One German fan, Thomas Schüller, told the AP while in Toronto that a beer costing 24.25 Canadian dollars, or about $17, felt excessive. “Es injusto. No está bien. Es un abuso,” he said, adding that it cost three times more than what he pays in his country.
The reactions show how the same stadium menu can land very differently depending on where fans are coming from. For some, the prices fit familiar U.S. sports expectations, while for others they have become a talking point almost as loud as the event itself.
Beyond the expensive snacks
The more unusual food options are also shaping the tournament’s image. In Los Angeles, the “Twinkie” cheeseburger is not a dessert-inspired novelty but a burger topped with a Texas Twinkie, which is a jalapeño wrapped in bacon and stuffed with beef brisket and cream cheese.
That mix of spectacle and high prices is helping define the fan experience before the tournament fully settles in. At these venues, the menu is turning into part of the story, with prices that are hard to ignore whether fans are buying caviar, empanadas, tacos, or beer.