The 2026 World Cup is generating buzz as FIFA begins to sell parking passes for the highly anticipated matches in Los Angeles, with prices reaching as high as $300 per matchday. This cost exceeds some of the tickets available for the games themselves.
Located more than a mile away from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where eight World Cup matches will take place—including the United States’ opener and a quarterfinal match—the parking passes are being marketed on FIFA’s official parking website, operated by JustPark. For the most critical matches, such as the U.S. opener, parking will run at $300, while other matches, including a match between Iran and New Zealand, will be priced at $250. In comparison, a Category 3 ticket for these matches is available for $140 or $180.
A FIFA spokesperson explained that these pricing decisions are influenced by local market conditions and comparisons with similar major events held in these cities. For context, parking in nearby venues such as the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, costs $56.50, and for higher-profile NBA events, it can escalate to $88. At NFL games held at SoFi Stadium, parking typically costs $71 per game when season passes are purchased.
The limited availability of parking spaces around World Cup venues, coupled with the increased demand, has allowed FIFA to capitalize on the situation, akin to practices seen with NFL teams. Only 4,000 spaces will be available for sale during the Kansas City World Cup matches, significantly lower than the usual 20,000 spaces available during Chiefs games.
Significantly, the parking structure for World Cup games is expected to differ vastly from what fans might encounter at conventional sporting events. Vehicles parking near the stadium will most likely be restricted to security personnel, hospitality, and sponsors. Consequently, plans for transportation services need to be well-organized, emphasizing the importance of pre-planning for attending fans.
Across various host cities, FIFA has mandated that parking must be purchased in advance—no later than 24 hours before kickoff—to avoid chaos on match days. For fans yet to secure parking, they might find options closer to game day, but prices are expected to soar due to high demand. Alternative parking after game days may be available through local businesses, but these options are often far away from the stadium.
FIFA is also facing scrutiny over the overall financial burden placed on attendees. While parking costs might be a small fraction of the total expenses expected for traveling fans, they contribute to what many are calling the most expensive World Cup in history. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has projected an astounding $11 billion in revenue from the tournament. In contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where public transport was free for fans, North America might offer minimal to no complimentary services, pushing the financial responsibility onto attendees.
As more details about parking availability emerge, FIFA continues to highlight its initiative to funnel profits into global soccer development. While parking and ticket prices are drawing concern, the event itself promises to provide unprecedented excitement and engagement for soccer fans around the world.