How America Broke the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be the most profitable tournament for FIFA and the most expensive for fans in history. Reporter Pete Syme investigated why ticket prices are so high and compiled five charts that illustrate just how out of reach many of the tournament's games are for average fans.

He found prices have risen after FIFA adopted ticketing practices common in North America, including dynamic pricing and running its own secondary resale market, where prices can skyrocket further.

Additional costs push the total even higher: flights, hotels, and transit to stadiums all add up, and some American cities are raising transit prices on game days.

When it's all said and done, FIFA stands to make $13 billion during the 2026 World Cup cycle.

United States

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