Some American Restaurants to Add Mandatory 20 Percent Gratuities for World Cup Visitors Unaccustomed to Tipping

Restaurants in several U.S. cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup are considering adding automatic gratuities of 20 percent to customer bills, citing concern that many international visitors are not familiar with American tipping practices.The issue is drawing attention well before the tournament begins, as host cities prepare for large crowds of foreign soccer fans, many of whom come from countries where service charges are already included and tipping is limited.Kansas City, which is scheduled to host six matches and an estimated 650,000 visitors, has been among the first cities to discuss the measure. The Missouri Restaurant Association has advised venues to consider automatic gratuities of 20 percent during the 40-day tournament, higher than the 15 percent standard seen in many cities in America.“Of all the countries coming here, some of them will know about [tipping], and some of them don’t know anything about it,” executive director Mike Burris told The Kansas City Beacon. “If I was a server, I wouldn’t be too happy if I took care of somebody for 90 minutes and they didn’t tip just because they didn’t know any better.”Boston, which will host seven World Cup matches, is also weighing similar options, with some venues there reportedly considering mandatory service charges for visiting fans. Owner of Davio’s Italian Restaurant, Steve DiFillippo, told NBC Boston that “we want everyone to do the same thing. That way, if they, you know, come to us one night and they go to another restaurant the next night, it should be the same.Mr. DiFillippo, who also serves on the board of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said he plans to notify diners about the mandatory tip policy on menus.Restaurants at Philadelphia, another city set to host six World Cup games, are mulling over adding a mandatory 20 percent tip. The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association last week held a briefing to discuss the coming flood of tourists and various cultural customs. Not every state is taking the same approach. In New Jersey, the Restaurant and Hospitality Association has focused instead on helping businesses prepare for cultural differences, including payment habits and dining expectations, but has not urged automatically adding tips.The discussion has prompted criticism online, with some commenters arguing that mandatory tipping sends the wrong message to visitors. “What a way to show American greed instead of hospitality,” one critic wrote on Reddit.Another commenter said, “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?’With automatic tips already becoming customary in many higher end establishments or rowdier tourist spots, some observers have also warned that temporary tips listed as service charges introduced for the World Cup could remain in place after the tournament ends. “The question no one is asking: will the mandatory tipping be dropped after the World Cup? I bet not,” wrote one redditor.The tipping debate comes as the 2026 World Cup is already expected to be one of the most expensive sporting events ever for fans attending in person.According to The Athletic, hotel prices in host cities jumped by more than 300 percent after the December draw determined match locations. The website says a hotel in Mexico City that costs $157 per night in late May, raised its prices for June 10 and 11, around the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa. A hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy app for the dates is listed at $3,882, a 2,373 percent increase.New York City fans trying to get to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are going to have to pay $150 for a round-trip train fare for each match. That means the fare will jump more than 1,100 percent from the typical $12.90 price. At Los Angeles, parking in official FIFA lots has reportedly cost more than some game tickets.Air travel is also becoming more expensive. Rising oil prices linked to the Iran war have pushed jet fuel costs up 85 percent, with international airfares more than doubling. As for ticket prices, some seats for matches during the group stage have reached $700 while tickets for the final have climbed into the thousands. An ESPN analysis found that fans trying to follow their national team throughout the tournament could end up spending at least $34,000.The growing cost of attending the tournament has drawn political attention abroad. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that high prices could shut out ordinary fans. “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 said.

Some American Restaurants to Add Mandatory 20 Percent Gratuities for World Cup Visitors Unaccustomed to Tipping

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