According to an investigation by The Athletic, food and beverage prices at MetLife Stadium, the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, are mid-range, with a 16 oz American beer costing $16.

On the day of the final, some fans at MetLife Stadium may be more focused on food and drink prices than on the starting lineups of Spain and Argentina. With an extended halftime—Justin Bieber, Shakira, and others will perform, followed by an awards ceremony, trophy presentation, and on-field celebrations—those fortunate enough to get tickets will have a long afternoon and evening ahead, during which food and drink will be essential.

So what can fans buy at this stadium just outside New York City? How do MetLife's prices compare to those at other FIFA World Cup venues this summer? For this FIFA World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, The Athletic's reporters visited all 16 stadiums and compiled a list of offerings for each. They identified over 100 unique menu items, mostly from general non-suite areas. For items like beer that came in multiple sizes, reporters standardized comparisons to 16 ounces (approximately 475 ml, slightly less than 1 pint) by calculating per-ounce unit prices using the largest size's unit price from each venue and rounding to the nearest 25 cents. Where necessary, Canadian dollars and Mexican pesos were converted to US dollars at a consistent exchange rate.

For fans heading to MetLife in New Jersey on Sunday, there is good news: a variety of food and drink options—though you'll need to find the right stand. On one menu the reporters reviewed, the only non-snack items qualifying as full meals were hot sausage or sweet sausage sandwiches, both priced at $14 (approximately £10). For something lighter, there are Sabritas brand nuts ($10), available in salt and lime or chili and lime flavors, and potato chips ($5). Once you locate the right stand, the selection expands, with a main combo offering four chicken tenders, fries, and a Coca-Cola for $19 (approximately £14). Without a soft drink, the price ranges from $14 to $15; with one fewer chicken tender, it's $13.

According to images shared on social media by fans who attended previous FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife, other items include: deli sandwiches ($16, approximately £12), stadium hot dogs ($8.50), fries ($8), cheese fries ($9), pretzel braids ($9, or $10 with a cup of cheese), clam strips ($6), turkey sandwiches ($7), cheese pizza ($11), or pepperoni pizza ($12). For water, a 20 oz bottle costs $5 (approximately £3.75), and soft drinks of the same size—Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, and Fanta—cost $6, while sports drinks (Gatorade) cost $7. For beer, a 16 oz American beer (Michelob Ultra) costs $16 (approximately £12), which is $3 more than the non-alcoholic version, also available. Craft or imported beer costs $17, or $18 for a draft. For premium beverages, a 12 oz can of Nutrl hard seltzer or ready-to-drink cocktail costs $19, and mixed cocktails—including Casamigos Margarita or Buchanan's "Buchanita"—cost $17. A 6.3 oz (186 ml) glass of wine costs $15.

Concession menus for this FIFA World Cup are not uniform because FIFA retained the existing food and beverage operators for all 16 stadiums. In previous FIFA World Cups, organizers standardized food and beverage offerings and pricing across all venues. But for 2026, FIFA engaged the companies that serve each stadium during NFL or domestic soccer matches (such as Aramark or Sodexo). This approach allows stadiums and their contractors to set their own prices, and their strategies naturally vary. However, a FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic: "Prices are broadly in line with those during regular events at each venue."

Among the 16 stadiums, The Athletic found that all sold five common items: water, soft drinks, potato chips, domestic beer, and craft or imported beer. *Beer prices are compared based on unit price per ounce, using the unit price of the largest size offered at each venue.

It is difficult for any stadium to compete with Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which adopted a "fan-first" pricing strategy championed by Atlanta Falcons owner and Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, whose holding company AMB Sports + Entertainment owns the stadium. Of the five items mentioned, MetLife's water price ties for the sixth cheapest with BMO Field in Toronto, and is significantly more reasonable than AT&T Stadium near Dallas ($8.25, approximately £6.25). At this New Jersey stadium, the price of a 20–22 oz soft drink ranks third cheapest among the 16 stadiums, $5.39 less than at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (the most expensive at $11.39). For 16 oz domestic beer, MetLife's price falls squarely in the middle range among the 11 stadiums where it was observed. Four stadiums offer cheaper options, five are more expensive, and Gillette Stadium outside Boston also charges $16. In the 16 oz craft or imported beer category, six of the other 10 stadiums are more expensive, and four are cheaper than MetLife's $17. Regarding food, potato chips tie for the third cheapest among the 16 stadiums. Among other common items, MetLife's popcorn ($6, approximately £4.50) ranks second cheapest among the 12 stadiums where it was available—surpassed only by Atlanta's $2. Among the 12 stadiums selling fries, MetLife's fries tie for the fifth cheapest. Fans will nonetheless likely consider these prices high compared to those at Premier League matches.

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