- Uber fares averaged 62 per cent above normal pricing during World Cup matches.
- The tournament final recorded the highest surge, with Uber fares rising 77 per cent in New York.
- The biggest gap between providers reached 64 per cent for the same journey.
Fans travelling to and from FIFA World Cup matches often paid sharply different fares depending on which rideshare app they opened first, according to a new analysis that found Uber prices averaged 62 per cent above normal levels during the tournament.
The research, conducted by rideshare comparison platform Obi, analysed more than 15,000 fare and waiting-time data points across Uber, Lyft, Waymo and DiDi in eight World Cup host cities during 15 key matches. It found that while higher demand pushed up prices across all platforms, Uber consistently charged above its previous week's baseline during every match monitored, while Lyft's peak fares averaged 43 per cent above normal.
One journey, very different prices
The biggest differences emerged during the later stages of the tournament, when demand reached its highest level. Uber's average peak fare increased from 59 per cent during the group stage to 72 per cent across the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The July 19 World Cup final produced the highest prices recorded in the study. In New York, Uber fares climbed to $143 (£106), around 77 per cent above baseline, while Lyft charged $102 (£76) for a similar journey.
New York and New Jersey were also the most expensive host market in the analysis. Around MetLife Stadium, where four matches were monitored, Uber fares averaged $146 (£109) at peak times.
The widest gap between providers came during Brazil's match against Morocco in New York. According to Obi, Uber charged $149 (£111) while Lyft priced the same journey at $91 (£68), creating a difference of $58 (£43), or 64 per cent.
Demand drove prices, but choice mattered
The analysis also found that surge pricing often coincided with shorter waiting times, suggesting higher fares encouraged more drivers onto the roads to meet post-match demand.
Across all matches studied, the average difference between the cheapest and most expensive rideshare provider was $25 (£19), highlighting how comparing apps could significantly reduce travel costs during major events.
Ashwini Anburajan, Chief Executive Officer of Obi, said the findings showed that while higher transport costs were expected when tens of thousands of people left stadiums at once, the scale of the differences between providers was striking, as quoted in a news report.
He added that dynamic pricing meant consumers rarely had a clear picture of the wider market and that the first fare they saw was often far from the cheapest option, reportedly saying greater price transparency would help passengers make more informed choices during periods of high demand.
