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Scott Stinson: Money, greed and FIFA's 'betrayal' of World Cup 2026

Billions of public dollars have been spent to host games, with fans then charged thousands more for match tickets

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It can be easy to forget that FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, is a non-profit organization.

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It is especially easy to forget this fact given that the 2026 World Cup, about to be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico, has become synonymous with avarice and greed, and the shameless gouging of soccer fans from around the globe.

Scott Stinson: Money, greed and FIFA's 'betrayal' of World Cup 2026 Back to video

Examples of FIFA’s rapaciousness abound. Hundreds of millions of dollars in upfront costs to the federal and local governments that, in many cases, are only hosting a handful of matches. Tickets to some high-profile games, even in the early stages of the tournament, listed for several thousand dollars each on FIFA’s primary market. Parking spots on match days for more than $150. Tickets to FIFA-approved “FanFest” events, essentially outdoor viewing parties, that were again being sold for more than $100. Train and bus fares on match days that were exponentially higher than the usual commuter rates. (On that one it just seems like the transit services were following FIFA’s lead.) Then, last week, the kicker: plans to allow fans to bring refillable water bottles to games, many of which will be played in blistering heat, were reversed. Water must instead be purchased on site.

All of it has combined to raise a prospect that six months ago would have been unthinkable: empty seats.

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