The FIFA World Cup 2026 didn’t just pack stadiums — it sent rideshare prices surging across every host city. Obi tracked real-time fares from Uber, Lyft, Waymo and DiDi across 8 cities and 15 key games, from the opening weekend through to the World Cup Final in New York.

The data tells a clear story: on every single game night, rideshare prices rose above normal. Uber averaged a peak surge of +62% above its prior-week baseline across all 15 games, with Lyft averaging +43%. The most extreme case was Mexico City, where Uber hit +118% above baseline for Mexico vs Czech Republic — the highest surge recorded in the entire tournament. At the other end of the scale, even the mildest games saw double-digit surges.

For fans travelling to games, the difference between providers was significant. In New York City — the most expensive market — Lyft consistently ran $30 to $50 cheaper than Uber on game nights. At the World Cup Final on July 19, Uber peaked at $143 while Lyft peaked at $102, but at kick off, there was a difference of $50 between the two providers.

Earlier on in the tournament, during Brazil vs Morocco, the highest variance was recorded at $58, a 64% variance between Lyft and Uber.

Waymo (where available), surged strongly in percentage terms but still delivered the cheapest absolute fares on game night. Note Waymo journeys are typically shorter, hence lower average prices.

The tournament also revealed a clear pattern between match importance and price impact. Group stage games averaged a +59% Uber surge; knockout rounds averaged +72%, with semifinals and the Final producing the sharpest spikes. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was the most expensive venue across the tournament, averaging a $146 Uber peak fare across its four games.

The analysis draws on more than 15,000 data points — hourly fare and wait time readings across 8 cities, 4 providers and over 160 days of tracking (including days prior to tournament for baseline data).

Download the full 19 page report below.