Australian football fans are dropping serious cash to follow the Socceroos at the 2026 World Cup in North America – with some spending upwards of $20,000 for the three-week trip.

Brothers Will and Gus Benedict, 21 and 24, reckon their journey will set them back at least $15,000, and “probably upwards of $20,000”.

“It’s not cheap, but it’s the World Cup,” Gus Benedict said. “And to watch Australia get a result against the US on home territory would be one of the greatest moments.”

The pair are among thousands of Australian fans flooding Vancouver ahead of the Socceroos' opening match against Turkiye on Sunday (AEST). FIFA ranks Australia in the top 10 nations for supporter ticket purchases, alongside England, Germany, Brazil and the three host nations.

About 10,000 Australians are expected inside the 54,400-seat BC Stadium for the Turkiye game. Most are travelling with the team for at least two more matches – against the US in Seattle and Paraguay in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic praised the travelling supporters at his pre-game press conference, saying: “We’ve seen… so many Australian fans walking the streets here in Vancouver; it’s wonderful.”

Downtown Vancouver is awash in green and gold. Melbourne-born Steve Tomamichel, who moved to Canada eight years ago, and his partner Courtney Amlinger say the World Cup has brought a buzz to the city – even if many locals haven't caught the fever yet.

“It’s a good energy in the city. I’d say the last time it was like this was when Taylor Swift came to town, but this is 20 times better,” Amlinger said.

But following the Socceroos doesn't come cheap. Ticket prices have been a hot topic for this World Cup. Les Street, attending his fourth World Cup, said: “I’ve spent just under $6000 on tickets [for six games], and I'm looking to go to more games, but the cost factor is limiting.”

Inside the stadium, a 591ml can of beer will set you back $C20 (about $16 a pint). Premium options go for $C26. A slice of pizza costs $C10.50, a Caesar salad $C19.75, and a packet of chips $C3.75. A bottle of water – a contentious issue after FIFA initially banned them before overturning the ban – is $C5.75.

Dale Roberts and partner Mike Jones are at their first World Cup, having just returned from cheering on Delta Goodrem at Eurovision in Austria. The Eurovision finals ticket cost $750 for three days – similar to a single World Cup group stage ticket.

“We’re massive sports fans and Eurovision fans. So Australia, whatever it is, Eurovision, World Cup – if Australia is involved, we will try and get there and support,” Roberts said. “We were going to make it happen either way, having said that the prices were absolutely obscene, but it wasn't going to stop us.”

The pair estimate the trip will cost them roughly $12,000 each. They booked an Airbnb in Vancouver as soon as Australia qualified and plan to spend time in Portland, Oregon, before heading to Seattle for the US game.

Max Tricarico, 24, sitting in downtown Vancouver's transformed Granville Street, is optimistic: “We have a better team than we did four years ago, and the fact we came second in that group gives me great hope this time around.”