The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Why is the World Cup such a rip-off?

Date: April 14, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Adam Crafton, Matt Slater, Henry Bushnell

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the spiraling costs associated with attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The discussion, led by Ayo Akinwolere with insights from Adam Crafton, Matt Slater, and Henry Bushnell, unpacks why ticket prices are at all-time highs, examines the cultural and practical impacts of hosting the event in the USA, and questions who the World Cup is really for when access seems limited to those with considerable means. The show also covers related topics, such as fan experiences, FIFA finances, and radical football reform ideas from Napoli’s owner, all with The Athletic’s trademark blend of reporting and frank debate.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Is World Cup Fever Gripping the US?

• Lack of Anticipation:
  • Despite being less than two months from kickoff, excitement in the US is muted compared to other sporting events.
  • Henry Bushnell (02:05):

    "Nothing really grips the United States more than a week before it happens or as it's happening... The thing that a random person knows... is ticket prices and the peace prize that Gianni Infantino gave Donald Trump."

• Low Visibility:
  • Even in cities like New York, there is little visible promotion or activation for the World Cup.

2. Ticket Prices: The Most Expensive World Cup Ever

• Context for Pricing:
  • Group stage tickets start at $700; lower level final tickets are over $8,000.
  • Comparatively, Qatar 2022 final tickets were around $1,600.
• European Contrast:
  • UEFA will cap Euro 2028 tickets at much lower prices (as low as €30 for category 4).
  • Matt Slater (04:51):

    "UEFA... realize there's money to be made at the top end... but at the bottom end, they are not shifting."

3. The Category System and Perceived Deception

• Fan Frustration:
  • US fans, used to buying specific seats, were misled by FIFA’s category system; prime seats are reserved for hospitality, leaving general fans with inferior seats.
  • Henry Bushnell (08:40):

    "Fans feel like they were misled... They thought they could be anywhere within the lower bowl, when in reality it seems that was not the case."

4. Where Does the Money Go?

• FIFA’s Revenue Windfall:
  • Projected to make over $11 billion from this World Cup, bolstered by expanded teams (32 to 48), more games, higher sponsorship, and broadcasting income.
• Distribution Model:
  • Most returns are passed to FIFA's 200+ member associations, not fans or host communities.
  • Matt Slater (11:19):

    "Major events... have a terrible record of not living up to expectations in terms of return for the host. For the most part, major events do not deliver the promises. They just don't."

  • Henry Bushnell (15:32):

    "Who is FIFA responsive to? ...Fans aren't really organized around the World Cup."

5. Broader Impact on US Soccer

• Missed Opportunity?:
  • The high prices and exclusivity may alienate some US and global football fans, potentially undermining soccer’s growth in the US.
  • Matt Slater (18:35):

    "This was supposed to be the next big step. I think FIFA here, they have lost sight of this."

6. The American Experience: Travel, Costs, and Accessibility

• Travel Hurdles:
  • Unlike Qatar 2022, where logistics were simple, the US’s vast geography means high intra-country travel costs and inconvenience for fans.
  • Public transit to stadiums is often expensive and limited; parking fees are astronomical.
  • Henry Bushnell (24:55):

    "Parking at the stadiums at minimum cost $100... The Uber prices are going to be ridiculous... That's going to be worse for the World Cup because there's going to be so much more demand."

  • Adam Crafton (27:37):

    "[Some stadiums] are a nightmare... Boston's Gillette Stadium... is the middle of nowhere. There is nothing there."

  • Example:
    • Standard train to Boston Patriots game: $20; World Cup: $80 return.
    • Bus alternative: $95 return (no concessions for seniors/kids).
    • New York Penn Station to MetLife: $12.90 now, over $100 planned for World Cup matches.
  • Henry Bushnell (32:49):

    "FIFA is charging double that for parking... $175 for parking at Gillette Stadium and $225 for parking... at the mall across from MetLife Stadium."

7. Who Is This World Cup For?

• Global Inequity:
  • Echoed that even fans from relatively wealthy nations will struggle; for fans from poorer countries, these prices are prohibitive.
  • Matt Slater (33:37):

    "The vast majority of people around the world are doing less well than we are... The numbers we're talking about are like lifetime earnings."

• A Tournament for the Uber-Rich and Domestic Elite:
  • American household wealth disparities mean there is still a substantial domestic market for expensive events.
  • Henry Bushnell (38:06):

    "There are a ridiculous amount of rich people in the United States... It's not just the top 1% of Americans who can pay for this, it's the top 10, 15, 20%."

• Atmosphere & Community:
  • Despite pricing out many, expat communities within the US are expected to provide some of the tournament's color and atmosphere.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Cultural Divide in Ticketing Practices:

  • Henry Bushnell (08:40):

    "US sports fans are very accustomed to buying a specific seat... They're not used to this category system."

• On the Purpose of the Modern World Cup:

  • Matt Slater (11:19):

    "Major events... have a terrible record of not living up to expectations in terms of return for the host."

• On FIFA’s Loyalty to Member Associations Over Fans:

  • Henry Bushnell (15:32):

    "Fans aren't really organized around the World Cup... their goal here is to milk as much revenue out of this tournament as possible."

Extended Segment: FIFA, ICE Raids, and US Policy

• FIFA Political Maneuvering:
  • Adam Crafton reports FIFA President Infantino could ask US President Trump to suspend ICE raids during the World Cup to protect fans, especially those from migrant communities.
  • Adam Crafton (42:55):

    "It sounds a bit mad... But what we've reported today is... they've discussed the possibility of what they are describing as a president to president request..."

  • Civil society groups and member federations are lobbying FIFA due to concerns from fans regarding safety and US immigration enforcement.

Lighter Segment: Football Revolutionaries – Aurelio De Laurentiis

• Radical Ideas from Napoli's Owner:
  • Proposals include: Halves cut to 25 minutes “real time,” no yellow/red cards (temporary send-offs instead), more goals through rule changes, cutting Serie A to 16 teams, mandating a minimum fan base for inclusion, and resurrecting the Super League in a new format.
  • De Laurentiis (46:21):

    "I will reduce from 45 minutes each side to 25 minutes... No out. I will never use red card and yellow card. I will say you are out five minutes, you are out 20 minutes."

  • Adam Crafton (47:52):

    "He loves to prod, provoke, come up with ideas... Some of his ideas will make you laugh, some you will agree with, some you might not like whatsoever."

Segment Timestamps

• [01:20] – Opening & "World Cup fever" in the US
• [04:08] – Ticket pricing discussion & UEFA comparison
• [08:31] – Fan experience buying tickets and Category controversy
• [10:41] – FIFA’s projected revenues and where the money goes
• [15:32] – Who FIFA is responsive to and revenue distribution
• [18:35] – Potential impact on US soccer (MLS & US Soccer)
• [24:34] – The real cost of attending: travel, hotels, transit
• [29:54] – Transportation/parking price examples and policy
• [33:12] – “Who is this World Cup for?” debate
• [38:06] – US income disparities and potential fan base
• [42:39] – FIFA, US policy, and ICE moratorium discussion
• [46:21] – Aurelio De Laurentiis interview: football rule revolution

Tone & Conclusions

The episode is analytical, blunt, and occasionally wry, marked by a sense of disappointment at FIFA’s direction and the threat to football’s inclusivity. The panel laments that the World Cup, a supposed festival for the world, is becoming prohibitively expensive for most. There’s skepticism about FIFA’s priorities, some hope that expat communities in the US can salvage atmosphere and diversity, and recognition that, as always, once the football begins, a portion of these concerns will be temporarily masked by the sport’s magic.

For further reading and full interviews, visit The Athletic’s website and YouTube feed.