By Natalia Kidd
Buenos Aires, July 18 (EFE).- Nearly 50,000 Argentines have traveled to the United States to follow their national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, spending an estimated $513 million as they prepare to cheer Lionel Messi and Argentina in Sunday’s final against Spain.
Despite soaring airfares, expensive domestic travel within the United States, and high ticket prices, thousands of Argentine supporters have once again filled stadiums with their light blue and white jerseys, recreating the atmosphere that captivated the world during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Based on data from tour operators and airline seat availability, consultancy Qualy estimates that around 45,000 Argentines had traveled to the US before the final, about 30 percent more than attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With average spending of about $10,000 per person, those trips generated an estimated $455 million in overseas travel expenditure.
The final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has prompted a fresh wave of last-minute departures.
Qualy estimates that another 4,500 Argentines will travel to the US for Sunday’s match against Spain, spending an average of $13,000 each and adding roughly $58 million to the total bill.
That would bring total spending by Argentine fans attending the tournament to about $513 million.
Economist Anastasia Daicich, executive director of Qualy Consultora, told EFE that World Cup travelers largely belong to higher-income households and do not reflect Argentina’s broader economic reality.
“Those who traveled to the World Cup are part of an upper-middle-income segment, but that is not representative of the average Argentine population,” she said.
Daicich noted that outbound tourism from Argentina has declined overall because many middle-income families can no longer afford international travel.
She added that, despite the scale of World Cup spending, it is unlikely to significantly affect Argentina’s tourism deficit or central bank reserves.
She also pointed out that not everyone wearing an Argentina jersey in US stadiums traveled from Argentina.
Many supporters are Argentine residents living in the US, estimated at about 240,000 people, as well as international fans drawn by the «Messi phenomenon.»
A premium price for the final
Argentina’s 2-1 semifinal victory over England on Wednesday triggered a surge in demand for flights and accommodation ahead of the final at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium.
Travel platform Despegar reported a 6,000 percent increase in searches for flights to New York immediately after the semifinal.
Aerolíneas Argentinas added two extra flights to New York, both of which sold out within 12 hours, prompting the airline to schedule a third flight on Friday. Fares started at $2,200, excluding taxes.
The airline also sold out seats on its two daily flights to Miami, a common connection point for travelers heading to New York.
«Everything sold out. There are no seats left for Miami either, despite two flights a day,» an airline source told EFE.
Demand for private jet charters has also increased. Operators are offering aircraft for up to 14 passengers for around $200,000, while luxury travel packages, including ground transportation, cost about $35,000 per person with a match ticket, or $27,000 without one.
Packages including tickets have already sold out.
Travel agencies continue to offer connecting flights starting at around $4,300 round trip, while hotel rooms in New York are priced between $300 and $600 per night during the final weekend.
According to travel search engine Turismocity, a carefully planned trip to attend the final costs at least $5,530 per person, including flights, accommodation, and travel insurance.
A more premium experience raises that figure to about $6,730.
Those estimates do not include match tickets, which are selling on the resale market for between $7,000 and more than $10,000, even for the least expensive seats. EFE
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