Millions of foreign soccer fans are coming to the US for World Cup soccer games, and the vast majority know next to nothing about America’s tipping culture.
Restaurants in World Cup host cities are bracing for the inevitable culture clash by adding mandatory tips to keep their staff from being shortchanged.
Many spots plan to automatically add gratuities of up to 20 percent to bills when international visitors descend this summer.
The move comes as the FIFA World Cup 2026 is already being branded one of the most expensive sporting events in history, with soaring costs for tickets, hotels and travel. Now we can add dining to the list.
Kansas City is set to host six matches and 650,000 visitors – the Missouri Restaurant Association has advised venues to introduce automatic gratuities during the 40-day tournament.
‘We just want to make sure that the servers and bartenders actually get tipped,’ said Trey Meyers, the Missouri Restaurant Association‘s director of marketing and communications.
Meyers said that many restaurants are expected to levy automatic tips ranging from 18 percent to 22 percent.
In most European countries, service is included in restaurant bills and tipping is generally minimal.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi lifts the FIFA World Cup trophy after winning the 2022 World Cup – US restaurants are bracing for a tipping culture clash during the World Cup this summer
Boston will host seven World Cup games. Similar discussions are underway there, with some venues reportedly considering mandatory service charges for visiting fans.
The policy has sparked a fierce backlash online.
‘What a way to show American greed instead of hospitality,’ one critic wrote on Reddit.
Another commenter quipped ‘Isn’t this just selfish and price gouging?’
‘They’re all going to be making more money since they’re gonna be busy. Now they want even more?’
Many critics warned that mandatory tipping could outlast the World Cup and become a permanent fixture in restaurants.
Others argued the US should follow other countries and scrap tipping altogether in favor of higher wages.
Still, some restaurant owners say the temporary measure is a practical solution – as long as it’s clearly communicated.
In most European countries, service is already included in restaurant bills, and tipping is generally minimal
Not every state is on board with the idea of automatic tipping.
The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association has focused on educating businesses about cultural differences, from payment habits to dining expectations.
And the tipping debate is only one flashpoint in what’s shaping up to be a costly tournament for fans.
According to The Atlantic, hotel prices in host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 surged more than 300 percent after the December draw determined match locations.
In some cases, parking at official FIFA lots in Los Angeles costs fans more than the game tickets themselves.
Flights are adding to the burden. Rising oil prices tied to the Iran war have driven an 85 percent spike in jet fuel costs, with international airfares more than doubling.
In light of these costs, an analysis by ESPN suggests that fans hoping to follow their team throughout the tournament could face costs of at least $34,000.
In Kansas City, the Missouri Restaurant Association has advised venues to introduce automatic tipping during the 40-day tournament
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Even ticket prices have raised eyebrows, with some group-stage seats reaching $700 and final tickets climbing into the thousands.
Concerns have reached political leaders too.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer warned that rising costs risk pricing out ordinary supporters.
‘As someone who used to save up for England tickets, I encourage FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable so that the World Cup doesn’t lose touch with the genuine supporters who make the game so special,’ he wrote.
With prices rising on nearly every front – from flights to food – fans heading to the World Cup may need to budget more than ever just to enjoy the game.
