Most outrageous food items on offer at FIFA World Cup stadiums
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Simon M Bruty/Getty Images
It's the last weekend of the FIFA Men’s World Cup. And amid dramatic exits and red card drama, but what’s arguably more jaw-dropping is some of the stadium eats on offer to football fans across the three co-host nations. And yes, you can grab them at a hefty price.
Tournament attendees have fallen in love with various things whilst supporting the competition, such as ranch sauce, which the TSA has been forced to issue various warnings about, and the convenience chain, Buc-ee’s, described as ‘lovely’ and ‘so cute’ by tourists.
However, not everything to do with the World Cup has gone down well with supporters, including how much a pint of beer costs and the bizarre table-and-chair setup seen pitchside at one of England’s games.
Another thing that social media users have been debating is some of the unique food offerings available at stadiums, including in Miami, Kansas City, and Los Angeles.
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And if you thought it was just pies, hot dogs, and burgers… Well, you’re about to be pleasantly surprised; revellers can actually dig into five-pound chicken-and-cheese empanadas and caviar-topped hash browns, but it’s costing them a bomb.
The stadium in Vancouver, Canada, was the setting for Australia’s opening game against Türkiye, Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Canada, and New Zealand’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of Belgium.
According to the Bleacher Report, the venue, home to the Vancouver Whitecaps, is selling two brilliant food options, with the first being Short Rib Poutine.
The dish features classic French fries topped with beef gravy, tender pulled short rib, and Canadian cheese curds for around £19.50.
Concession stands are also shelling out ‘Maple Bacon Smokies’, featuring smokie sausage in a brioche bun that has been drizzled with maple bacon onion jam.
The home of the Miami Dolphins is serving a giant pan con lechón, a classic Cuban sandwich with low-roasted, mojo-marinated pulled pork and sautéed onions stuffed inside buttered Cuban bread.
Miami Stadium is also where you will find the Empanada Mundial, a gigantic chicken-and-cheese empanada that weighs five pounds. Be prepared to fork out a stunning $40.
Arguably, the most outrageous item you’ll find on the menu are ‘Fancy AF Tots’.
The latter is fried hash brown potatoes topped with caviar, crème fraîche and chives. According to Delish, a bowl of these beauties will set football fans back by $75.
Colloquially known as the Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Stadium in Missouri is where you will find smoked pastrami sandwiches that have been brined for 15-days and smoked for 17-hours by executive chef, Drake Tingley.
The mouth-watering item is drizzled with whole-grain mustard BBQ sauce and is topped with Swiss cheese and crispy onions before being squished between a custom soccer ball bun.
Other items that have been on sale at stadium kitchens run by Tim Newcomb during the tournament include: Oxtail egg rolls and a Bayritto Dog (a grilled beef hot dog pressed in a flour tortilla with beef birria, spicy refried beans, shredded cheddar, Spanish rice, salsa roja and avocado crema).
Who doesn’t want to watch the game with a luxurious lobster roll, right?
Anyone who has been watching games at the Boston Stadium has been able to sample a massive version of New England’s signature dish.
The Boston Stadium lobster roll features heavy mayo, lemon, toasted celery seed, and fresh, never-frozen claw and knuckle meat.
If it isn’t matchday without a burger, then the Los Angeles Stadium, also known as the SoFi Stadium, is the place to be.
Currently, they have a wild Twinkie Cheeseburger on offer - and it’s arguably one of the most unhinged eats at the World Cup 2026.
The over-the-top stadium speciality, costing $22, features a savoury beef patty with cheese topped with a ‘Texas Twinkie’. That’s a bacon-wrapped jalapeño stuffed with brisket and cream cheese, in case you were wondering.
This year, there’s been a whole host of rule changes, many of which are designed to speed up the game and penalise players who drag things out. Some of the new regulations are likely to prove controversial.
Subbed players now have to get a move on and leave the pitch within ten seconds by the nearest exit point. If they haven’t, their replacement will get held up by one minute until the next stoppage of play, and until then, their side will have to play with 10 men.
If a referee thinks a player is taking too long for a throw-in or goal kick, they’ll start a five-second countdown, by which time the ball needs to be back in play. If it’s not, for throw-ins the opposing team will get their own throw-in, or for a goal kick the other side gets a corner.
An injured player treated by medical staff off-field has to stay off the pitch for one minute, leaving their side with just 10 players.
VAR can now be used to review an incorrectly awarded corner kick; second yellow cards resulting in a red card; when a player is incorrectly awarded a yellow or red card for another player’s actions; and any attacking fouls that occur before the ball is in play.
Players who cover their mouths in confrontational situations will be handed a red card. It’s believed players might cover their mouths to guard against lip readers while racially abusing other players, which some suspect has happened in the past.
Any player who leaves the pitch in protest over a referee’s decision will be handed a red card, and if a team walks off and causes a match to be abandoned, they’ll forfeit the game.