The World Cup Of Greed? Tournament Has Earned That Reputation

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (R) presents US President Donald Trump a FIFA world Cup ticket for the final match in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2025. Trump announced the 2026 World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at Washington's Kennedy Center. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

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Regardless of what transpires on the soccer pitch, this summer's big soccer tournament already has the reputation of the World Cup of Greed.

It seems everyone wants part of the big pot of gold, whether it is FIFA, with its ridiculous ticket prices or local municipalities trying to gauge out the public for a profit.

FIFA's exorbitant ticket prices and headlines have been well documented over the last several months.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images)

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No April Fool’s joke

The latest update came on April 1, when the last phase ticket sale was opened to the public.

It was no April Fool's joke for those fans who wanted to purchase tickets.

When those individuals logged onto FIFA's portal, many were forced to wait hours before they were even allowed to enter. And some fans were directed by the world soccer's governing body to the wrong portal, forcing an event longer wait.

When they finally got through, fans discovered higher ticket prices than in previous windows.

According to The Athletic, one Category 1 ticket for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium (which will be called New York New Jersey Stadium during the competition), has skyrocketed to $10,990. That was quite a rise in price since it went for $6,370 in October. That is a 72.52 percent increase.

It has been on the rise since then. Category 1 tickets rose to $7,875 in November and $8,680 in December.

In contrast, when the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup, tickets for the final between eventual champion Brazil and Italy at the Rose Bowl cost as much as $1,500. Counting inflation, that is equal to $3,308, in today’s prices.

Ticket prices for the entire USA '94 tournament ranged from $25 to $475, according to ESPN.

For 2022 World Cup in Qatar, prices ranged from around $70-$,1600.

NYON, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 10: Former Wales international player Gareth Bale on stage during the UEFA EURO 2028 & 2032 Host Announcement at the UEFA headquarters, The House of European Football on October 10, 2023 in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

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UEFA puts the consumer first

In a stark contrast to the World Cup, UEFA reportedly will have much lower ticket prices for the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

According to The Times of London, the least expensive tickets will cost below £30 ($34.73). The newspaper said that fans can purchase two tickets for less than what a parking space at the World Cup will cost. Parking places for games in Arlington, Texas run around $125 for its June 14 match pitting the Netherlands vs. Japan, according to JustPark.com.

UEFA already has ensured that 40 per cent of tickets were in the “most affordable categories,” The Times reported. They were £26 ($34.73) and £52 ($69.45) for Euro 2024 in Germany. UEFA has planned to keep the prices at a similar level, The Times reported.

Martyn Ziegler, the Times' chief sports reporter, wrote that he "understood 15 per cent of tickets will be available for $34.73 or less and another 25 percent will cost $69.45 or less.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JULY 2: MetLife Stadium stands next to the American Dream Mall on July 2, 2024, as seen from above East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

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A New Jersey surcharge?

Local municipalities also have gotten in on the act.

New Jersey legislators have introduced a bill in state Senate that would impose temporary surcharges on hotels, transportation, sales transactions and sports betting in the area around the MetLife Stadium area during the World Cup. That would raise the sales tax rate by three percent, bringing the total rate to 9.25 percent.

Eight matches are scheduled for the venue.

The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Paul Sarlo, a Democrat, would increase the sales tax within the Meadowlands District. The district includes Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Little Ferry, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, North Arlington, Ridgefield, Rutherford, South Hackensack, and Teterboro in Bergen County and Jersey City, Kearny, North Bergen, and Secaucus in Hudson County.

Chris Eilert, Sarlo’s chief of staff, told NorthJersey.com in a statement that the state is "incurring significant costs for public safety and security for hosting the World Cup games in the Meadowlands."

"If the state can recoup those costs by assessing fees on the entities sponsoring and producing the games, and on the people attending the games, then that should be something the administration pursues,” Eilert added.

Assembly Republicans have asked Gov. Mikie Sherrill to reject the legislation.

"In October, the governor said she would not raise the sales tax. That’s exactly what this does," said Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-Bergen), Assembly Republican Conference Leader, told NorthJersey.com. "If we truly want to make New Jersey a destination, we should be lowering taxes, not raising them during one of the biggest international events we've ever hosted."

Nothing has been settled yet.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 03: An aerial view of Gillette Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

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A train hike in Boston

For fans traveling from Boston, Gillette Stadium (Boston World Cup Stadium) in Foxborough, Mass. the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will quadruple its usual prices for a roundtrip train ticket, The Athletic reported on April 6. A roundtrip ticket will cost $80, much higher than the usual $20 it charges for similar journeys. That includes games for the New England Patriot and New England Revolution and concerts.

On March 26, The MBTA said in a statement to The Athletic: “The MBTA has taken on a $35 million project to upgrade Foxboro Station in advance of this World Cup, including making it fully accessible. The MBTA plans to run an unprecedented amount of service for the World Cup, mobilizing up to 20,000 riders to and from each match, and we’re excited to serve the global community of soccer fans coming to Massachusetts.”

The Boston World Cup Host Committee declined to comment to The Athletic.

Gillette Stadium will host seven games in the tournament.

As of today, Tuesday, April 7, there are 65 days until the World Cup kickoff in Mexico City on June 11.

It will be interesting to see if more municipalities will try to make a World Cup money grab.

Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter's perspective, will be published this spring.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com