World Cup Ticket Scams Spread as Costs Hit Record Highs

The 2026 World Cup, opened after ceremonies in Mexico, Canada and the United States, is being billed as the biggest, most diverse and most profitable tournament ever, but also the most expensive. Even before adding flights, hotels and other trip costs, ticket prices alone are setting records. Some group-stage matches are already selling for more than $1,000, including an average price of about $1,100 for Mexico versus Czechia, while final tickets are climbing above $10,000.

That demand is drawing tens of thousands of Israelis to the tournament, and it is also creating a fertile market for fraud. Chaim, from Tel Aviv, said he realized he had been cheated only at the stadium entrance in Mexico, when a security guard told him the ticket had already been scanned. He said he first thought it was a mistake and asked to try again, but then understood he had been scammed. “It hurts to lose thousands of shekels, but that is not the real story,” he said. “You dream about this moment for months, you fly to the other side of the world, arrive at the stadium with a shirt and a flag, and in one second realize the game is starting without you.”

Merav from Nahariya said she tried to surprise her son, who lives in New York, with a World Cup ticket for his birthday. She bought it from a man online who seemed reliable and repeatedly sent screenshots and explanations about where they would sit. “The moment I transferred the money he simply disappeared,” she said. She kept calling and messaging him, but got no response.

Experts say some buyers may recover money after a company review, but when the deal is with a private seller on social media or an unknown website, the chances are much lower. Assaf Einat, a partner at Ticketims, said the surge in demand is feeding the scams. He warned that people should buy only from known, reputable companies working with official suppliers, check who is behind the sale, read reviews, and verify a real address and customer service. He said a ticket offered at a price that sounds too good to be true should raise an immediate red flag, because FIFA’s price increases have also made the fraud more sophisticated.