Cities hosting the World Cup could make tipping mandatory at restaurants. Gratuity customs in the US are common but restaurants are worried fans won’t be familiar with this and won’t give a tip.
A service tip of 20% could be added to bills with the World Cup already labelled as one of the most expensive events ever staged. Football fans will have to pay for tickets, hotels, travel and dining costs. In Missouri, Kansas City will hold six games, with 650,000 visitors set to visit.
The Missouri Restaurant Association has now urged local venues to bring in mandatory tips, reports GB News.
Trey Meyers, the association’s director of marketing and communications, said: “We just want to make sure that the servers and bartenders actually get tipped.”
Tipping is not common in the UK and some other countries, such as Australia. But, in America, it is expected for customers to add a tip.
In Kansas City, restaurants could apply up to a 22% automatic gratuity charge.
Boston, which will stage seven games, is considering similar measures. This includes two Scotland games and an England match.
The measures have had mixed reactions with some supporting the idea and others calling it “selfish” on social media.
Prices for hotels have already increased dramatically in some cities which will be hosting games.
Airfare prices have also doubled due to a huge 85% surge in jet fuel costs after the conflict in Iran.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged FIFA to make tickets more affordable – with no sign that this will happen any time soon.
In the UK, pubs will remain open until 2am during World Cup fixtures involving England or Scotland.
This is the first time in 10 years that extended licensing hours have been granted for home nation knockout matches.
With all 48 teams now qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the 37-day tournament is drawing closer.
The World Cup kicks off in Mexico on June 11 with 103 matches leading up to the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium on July 19.