2026 is a Scam 🇺🇸⚽️

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2026 FIFA World Cup: The Most Expensive Tournament in History

A few months ago, we thought we wanted to go to the World Cup. We signed up, gave some information on the FIFA website, and hoped for the best.

A few emails later, and endless solicitations to PAY FOR THE CHANCE to buy tickets, we’re done. We’re calling it.

FIFA World Cup 2026 is a scam.

Let’s get into it.

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But first, a little overview…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is going to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest in history.

48 teams, 104 matches, 16 host cities.

It will be the most expensive World Cup ever staged, both for fans and for host cities footing the operational bill.

For the first time, FIFA is introducing dynamic ticket pricing, a system that adjusts costs in real time based on demand. The result of this aims to be a tournament that risks becoming “the World Cup for the rich.”

Host cities are strained, facing multimillion-dollar security and infrastructure costs with no revenue sharing from FIFA. This is an arrangement that has prompted several cities to withdraw from hosting altogether. Chicago, Minneapolis, Montreal, and Vancouver are NOT hosting World Cup matches.

Part 1: Dynamic Pricing

Dynamic pricing, common in U.S. sports and airlines, is being applied to the World Cup for the first time. Ticket prices change in real time as algorithms detect demand.

• U.S. group stage tickets rose from $535 to $565 within 48 hours.

• Quarterfinal prices climbed 30% in three days.

• Tickets went on sale before the draw—buyers don’t know which teams they’re paying for.

Unable to get tickets or need to re-sell? FIFA operates its own resale marketplace and takes a 30% cut on every transaction (15% from the buyer, 15% from the seller).

Unlike previous World Cups, there’s no resale price cap. Fans are effectively competing in a secondary market controlled by FIFA itself.

FIFA argues that dynamic pricing can lower prices for low-demand matches. But let’s call it what it is:

This is price gouging at the highest level. It only rewards those with the deepest of pockets.

Oh! AND THE Host City’s Burden

While FIFA controls all commercial revenue—broadcasting, sponsorships, ticketing, and merchandising—host cities pay for everything else: security, stadium upgrades, fan zones, transportation, and policing.

• No revenue-sharing agreements

• 10-year tax holiday for FIFA and its subsidiaries

• Unlimited financial liability for cities

• Security costs per city: $45–50 million

Example: Santa Clara projects total event costs near $50 million for six matches

Chicago, Vancouver, and Minneapolis all withdrew from the bidding process, calling FIFA’s requirements “a blank check with no financial ceiling.”

Even after U.S. federal intervention with a $625 million security fund, several cities remain close to break-even at best.

A little note on FIFA’s financial targets…

FIFA’s total revenue in Qatar? 7.6 Billion.

FIFA’s projected revenue in North America? 13 Billion dollars. That’s aiming to be a 70+% increase.

FIFA describes itself as a nonprofit organization, claiming to reinvest 90% of revenue into global football development.

But in practice, most of the $13 billion will come from:

• Broadcasting and streaming rights

• Sponsorships and licensing deals

• Ticketing and hospitality packages

And nearly all of that will stay under FIFA’s direct control. So naturally, the question you have to answer is…

What could they do with that sort of money?

Building Football Powerhouses

If we’re to believe that FIFA re-invests 90% of that revenue to further the cause of football and develop programs, we have to dial it back for a second. We have to think about building foundational programs in football. We have to ask some questions…maybe this one:

How does a country become competitive on the world stage?

Consider the Kingdom of Morocco, a country that has built one of the most impressive national football programs of the modern era.

Morocco’s Investment Timeline (2009–2025)

A total of ~$1.3 billion USD transformed their national program in 15 years. It looks to be a proven and exportable model for developing world-class talent.

So…if one “Morocco” costs ~$1 billion over 15 years, what could FIFA’s 2026 windfall do ($13 Billion)?

FIFA could fund 10 Moroccos with the 2026 World Cup. Now obviously this doesn’t assume costs out of that revenue, so bear with us while we idealize the future.

FIFA could lift entire football ecosystems—in Africa, South Asia, the Caribbean, or Oceania—rather than simply growing its balance sheet.

It’s a different problem as to why this won’t happen. And it’s a problem we won’t talk about today…but soon.

Lastly, the emotional and financial equity problem

So, Fans are priced out by dynamic algorithms. Host cities carry risk with no guaranteed return.

The “World Cup for the world” has become a luxury product—one in which participation itself is a form of privilege.

And FIFA, meanwhile, is earning this record revenue while paying no taxes in host nations.

New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani summed it up bluntly:

Have a great week!