How Fifa lost control and made the World Cup a rip-off for fans

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, FIFA faces underwhelming ticket sales despite claims of 500 million requests, with senior officials described as 'very nervous' about the figures. Fans are reportedly facing costs of between $10,000 and $35,000 to follow their team, according to estimates from bodies like the Football Supporters Association and former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore. The report, published May 8, 2026, by Miguel Delaney, criticizes FIFA president Gianni Infantino's embrace of US-style commercialisation as having priced loyal supporters out of attending.