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World Cup 2026 food: Best and worst meals served at stadiums

Written by Andy Delaney
Last Update: July 20, 2026
World Cup 2026 food: Best and worst meals served at stadiums
Photo by ZUMA Press, ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

With the 2026 World Cup now complete, we have several talking points that will keep us busy until the beginning of the 2030 edition of the tournament in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

While the action on the pitch was largely enjoyable, the controversy away from it was constant. Food prices inside the host stadiums were one key issue that fans complained about throughout the tournament, but was the value for money really that bad?

Below, we run through the best and worst World Cup meals of the summer.

Best World Cup meals

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

This banquet at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was by far the best value-for-money option at the 2026 World Cup, featuring chicken tenders, popcorn, crisps, a slice of pizza and a hot dog.

BC Place

It wasn't all about burgers and chicken tenders in North America this summer, as this Indian dish in Vancouver proves.

Lumen Field

Seattle Sounders are very proud of their ‘bang bang' sauce, and it proved to be a hit with fans at Lumen Field this summer. While this dish is overpriced, it does at least look appetising.

Worst World Cup meals

Gillette Stadium

To charge £25.50 for a burger that looks like it has just come out of the microwave at Wetherspoons is, to be frank, scandalous. Could they not have at least offered something better than water?

BC Place

BC Place was hit-or-miss this summer when it came to food. This roast beef sandwich wasn't the most expensive food offering in North America, but it doesn't look great.

NRG Stadium

Remind us not to complain when we are charged £7 for a Rollover Hot Dog at an EFL ground next season.

Lincoln Financial Field

A meat pie and a bottle of Coke – pretty standard football food – for £17.60.

Avatar of Andy Delaney

Andy Delaney

Andy is a freelance sports writer with ten years of experience covering major sporting events across Europe. He has also been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford since 2008 and has visited over 40 football stadiums in the United Kingdom and abroad following the Reds.

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