Who is the World Cup for anymore?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Who is the World Cup for Anymore?

Podcast: The Indicator from Planet Money
Host: NPR, Waylon Wong
Episode Date: November 11, 2025

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Overview

This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money explores the escalating costs and changing dynamics of attending the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Host Waylon Wong is joined by NPR’s senior business editor and longtime fan, Raphael Nam, to unpack how new ticketing strategies, soaring prices, and uncertainty are reshaping the World Cup experience, raising the question: who is the tournament really for now?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The World Cup Comes to North America — But at What Cost?

• Expanding Scope: The upcoming tournament is the largest ever, featuring 48 teams across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

• A Fan’s Perspective: Raphael Nam shares his World Cup journey, having attended six tournaments since 1994, which was memorable for its accessibility and affordable ticket prices.

  "I was in high school then and I saw an ad in the newspaper. So I called the phone number and talked to this very nice lady and got tickets to South Korea versus Bolivia near Boston... And getting tickets was so easy." — Raphael Nam, [01:17]

2. A Shift in Ticket Pricing & Accessibility

• Dynamic Pricing: For the first time, FIFA is using dynamic pricing for tickets, akin to how airlines adjust seat prices to maximize profit.

  "Dynamic pricing? Like the way airlines sell seats at the highest price they feel they can charge until they sell out of seats on the plane." — Waylon Wong, [05:00]

• Lack of Transparency: FIFA isn’t disclosing ticket prices in advance. Fans only find out prices if they’re selected in a ticket lottery and given access to buy.

  "FIFA is not releasing many details about ticket prices. In fact, the first time fans learned about ticket prices was during a presale." — Raphael Nam, [05:15]

3. Sticker Shock and Uncertainty for Fans

• Price Surge: Tickets range from $60 (in small, select sections) to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, especially for U.S. games and the final.

  "The cheapest prices are over $500. And again, that's for a very tiny part of the stadium. And get this—many seats for the final this time will be at least $6,000." — Raphael Nam, [05:58]

• FOMO and the Lottery: Limited supply and lottery-based sales drive fans to impulsively buy for fear of missing out.

  "They sell tickets in windows, meaning instead of selling them all at once, they release tickets in batches and they hold these lotteries... it's like when you see people trampling each other to grab everything in sight during Black Friday." — Raphael Nam, [07:06]

4. New Revenue Streams: Rights to Buy and Hospitality Packages

• Right to Buy: For a premium, fans can secure the right to buy a ticket to a game/venue, but price isn’t set up front.

• Hospitality Seats: Skip the lottery entirely, pick your team or game, and enjoy VIP perks—but prices start at $1,400 for basic opening matches, reaching up to $26,000 for eight-game bundles with a final.

  "But you can also, for more money, pick which team you want to see... You can buy a bundle of eight games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which includes the final, the cheapest price: $26,000." — Waylon Wong, [09:00]

5. Fan Experience: Diminished Accessibility

• Secondary Markets: Some fans may try reselling tickets, but FIFA controls this marketplace as well.

• Buying Blind: Many tickets are sold before matchups are determined—fans don’t know which teams they’ll see.

  "Fans are buying tickets for games without knowing who's playing... So for every big team like Spain or England, you have Cape Verde... Uzbekistan and Jordan, which are also first timers." — Raphael Nam, [07:56]

6. Who is the World Cup For?

• Rafael's Confession: Despite misgivings, Nam admitted to buying hospitality seats, succumbing to FOMO and feeling conflicted about the spiraling costs.

  "Honestly, this is one of those, like, moments in a horror movie. Like the call is coming within the house." — Raphael Nam, [09:24]
  "I bought hospitality seats... Part of me is glad I don't have to go through all this hand wringing... FIFA holds all the cards here, right? This is the US and FIFA knows people will pay. People like me." — Raphael Nam, [09:31][09:48]

• Reflection: The hosts acknowledge that the tournament has become both a massive spectacle and increasingly inaccessible for average fans.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• FIFA’s Fan Relationship Evolution:

  "For the first time in World Cup history, the tickets are extremely expensive and hard to get." — Raphael Nam, [01:54]

• On the New World Cup Economy:

  "FIFA has said these prices are to align to the way sports tickets are priced in the US... FIFA so far is facing no issue selling tickets." — Waylon Wong, [06:17]-[06:21] "But people are paying these kinds of prices. And you know how I know?... I bought hospitality seats." — Raphael Nam, [09:16][09:31]

• The Modern Fan Dilemma:

  "Part of me is glad I don't have to go through all this hand wringing... FIFA holds all the cards here, right?" — Raphael Nam, [09:48]

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:11: Episode introduction; setting up World Cup accessibility issues
• 01:17: Raphael Nam recounts his first World Cup experience in 1994
• 03:44: FIFA’s history of controversy and prior ticket affordability
• 05:00: Introduction of dynamic pricing and lack of price transparency
• 05:58: Specifics on ticket price ranges for 2026, including U.S. games and final
• 07:06: Discussion of ticket lotteries, FOMO, and sales strategies
• 07:56: Buying tickets blind—unknown matchups, secondary market nuances
• 08:30: Rights to buy and hospitality seats explained
• 09:24: Raphael’s confession of succumbing to FOMO and buying hospitality seats
• 10:13: Wrapping up—reflection on what fans really get for the price

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Tone & Takeaways

• The discussion is lively, honest, and slightly incredulous at the growing commercialization of the World Cup. Both hosts balance nostalgia for accessible fandom with candid skepticism about the direction FIFA is heading.
• The episode leaves listeners questioning whether global sporting spectacles are still for the masses—or for the most privileged and determined fans.

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This summary captures the full arc of the episode and its core insights, helping listeners and non-listeners alike understand how FIFA’s evolving business model is reshaping the fan experience, often to the detriment of accessibility but clearly in pursuit of maximum profit.

Transcript

[A]

Npr.

[B]

This is the indicator from Planet Money. I'm Waylon Wong. The men's FIFA World cup is coming to the US Next year. It's going to be the biggest World cup ever, but it's also likely to be the most expensive and the most elusive for your average soccer fan. Just check out what they're saying on social media.

[A]

When FIFA opened the presale for official tickets, I was shocked to see the prices. Just reading into the ticket prices for the World cup next year.

[C]

Horrible.

[D]

Absolutely.

[A]

This was a shambolic rollout. Has anyone seen the ticket prices they're.

[C]

Charging for these games?

[B]

I'm joined now by another fan. He also happens to be NPR's senior business editor, Raphael Nam. Welcome.

[A]

Hey, Willem.

[B]

Hi. And you are a, like, super, super fan, right? I hear you've been to, what, six World Cups.

[A]

I have six of them. The World cup has taken me to South Africa, Braz, Russia. Total five continents.

[B]

Now. This is not the first time the World cup has been in the U.S. that was in 1994, but it's much bigger this time. There's 48 teams spread out across the U.S. canada and Mexico.

[A]

Yes, I was actually there in 1994. That was my first World cup game ever. I was in high school then and I saw an ad in the newspaper. So I called the phone number and talked to this very nice lady and got tickets to South Korea versus Bolivia near Boston. It ended up being a 00 game. And honestly, I had such a BL. And getting tickets was so easy.

[B]

You must have been so, so excited when you heard the World cup was coming back to the U.S. you know something?

[A]

You would have thought, right? But honestly, my first reaction was a very strongly worded version of oh, no.

[B]

Oh no. Why? What were you thinking?

[A]

As you've heard, right. For the first time in World cup history, the tickets are extremely expensive and hard to get.

[B]

Yes. So today on the show, we'll talk about just what FIFA is doing this time around, how it differ from previous World Cups and what it means for next year's tournament and for fans.

[C]

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[B]

Now, we all know FIFA has been a controversial organization. There was a huge corruption scandal in 2015 that led to the indictment of a handful of people. And FIFA is known for cozying up to countries with questionable human rights records like Qatar and Russia.

[A]

But the one thing for US Fans is that every World cup so far has been more or less affordable.

[B]

Yeah. So average fans could still go.

[A]

Yeah. And at the start of the sales process, FIFA would release a table with all the ticket prices right from the opening match to the knockout games and then all the way to the final.

[B]

Looking at the last World cup in Qatar for the initial set of games, tickets range from just about $11 up to around $220. Tickets did get more expensive for the knockout rounds, but all in all, we are not talking like super bowl prices.

[A]

Yeah, I know. I was there for an entire month in Qatar. I watched over 20 games. I watched all the Korea games. I'm a big fan. That's why I go to the World Cups. And I also saw that awesome Argentina, France final. I was on parental leave, Waylon, and I was like, I'm so going. Qatar is a very small country, so all the stadiums are easily reachable. It was a great experience.

[B]

Did you have your kid in a baby Bjorn?

[A]

Yeah, I did. I was taking care of my baby and trying to get tickets to the game.

[B]

Wow. Multitasking.

[A]

I know.

[B]

But one of the first inklings that this World cup might be different was when FIFA said it would implement a type of dynamic pricing for the first time. Dynamic pricing? Like the way airlines sell seats at the highest price they feel they can charge until they sell out of seats on the plane.

[A]

Yeah. And the other thing for 2026 is that FIFA is not releasing many details about ticket prices. In fact, the first time fans learned about ticket prices was during a pre sale. That happened last month. There was a lottery where people applied for a chance to get tickets, and then those who were picked were given a date and a time sl to buy the actual tickets.

[B]

And when those lucky lottery winners logged in, they discovered that prices were all over the place and they were a lot more expensive. And each game seems to have different prices. In the opening rounds, there were some tickets available for $60, but that was only for a tiny part of this gigantic NFL stadium. In fact, most of the tickets were between 200 to $600.

[A]

The US games were the most expensive ones. Take the opening game. Right. The cheapest prices are over $500. And again, that's for a very tiny part of the stadium. And get this many seats for the final, this time will be at least $6,000. And they may not even be great seats.

[B]

What?

[A]

And FIFA has said these prices are to align to the way sports tickets.

[B]

Are priced in the US but this is the thing. FIFA so far is facing no issue selling tickets. In fact, they just announced that they sold out in this first phase.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And that was over a million tickets. But, you know, FIFA always said this World cup would see the biggest demand ever. I mean, it makes sense, right? Waylon, if you combine the population of the U.S. canada, Mexico, you're talking about half a billion people already.

[B]

Right. And I wasn't planning to go, so that's half a billion minus one. Still a big crowd.

[C]

It is.

[B]

Yeah. And FIFA's sale process is in many ways perfectly geared for FOMO. They sell tickets in windows, meaning instead of selling them all at once, they release tickets in batches and they hold these lotteries.

[A]

Yeah. And you know what happens then when people are chosen for a lottery? They are so excited. So, you know, they're already itching to log in and just buy. It's like when you see people trampling each other to grab everything in sight during Black Friday, remember?

[B]

Yeah. So these World cup tickets are like the equivalent of a very cheap flat screen tv.

[C]

They are. Yeah.

[A]

And if you're logged in, right, you could say, no, thanks. But what if prices go even higher? What if you don't get another chance? In fact, the second sales window starts tomorrow. FIFA again, has not disclosed what the prices will be this time. So you won't find out until you log in. And that's if you were picked after FIFA held the lottery last month.

[B]

And I guess people who face buyer's remorse could say, well, I'll just sell it in the secondary market. I could flip it for a profit. And in fact, FIFA runs its own marketplace for people hoping to resell tickets.

[A]

And some fans might want to sell tickets anyways because FIFA has determine the final schedule, right, or who's playing with who yet. So fans are buying tickets for games without knowing who's playing. And this is the biggest World cup ever, 48 teams. So for every big team like Spain or England, you have Cape Verde, the second smallest country to ever qualify, or Uzbekistan and Jordan, which are also first timers.

[B]

So essentially, this is just a whole lot of uncertainty. You don't know if you can get a ticket, how much it will be, or when your favorite team will even play.

[A]

Yes, but FIFA has an answer to that. An expensive one, though, Wayland. For hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it gives you a guaranteed chance to get a ticket. No lottery for the venue of your choice. You just don't know the price. That will be determined later. It's called right to buy, man.

[B]

The gamification just keeps on going. And there's another way to guarantee a ticket, right?

[A]

Yeah, it's the so called hospitality seat. And with this one, again, no lottery. But you can also, for more money, pick which team you want to see.

[B]

But you'll need to pony up at least $1,400 for the opening round. And they go higher, much higher. Like you can buy a bundle of eight games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which includes the final, the cheapest price, $26,000.

[A]

But people are paying these kinds of prices. And you know how I know?

[B]

I am afraid to ask how you know.

[A]

Honestly, this is one of those, like, moments in a horror movie. Like the call is coming within the house.

[B]

Oh, no. What happened?

[A]

I bought hospitality seats.

[B]

You did not.

[A]

I did. I did. Wellan, hear me out. I've obsessively followed games for South Korea in every World cup and I was like, I just cannot miss out.

[B]

The FOMO got you. It got you good.

[A]

I know, but I did. And honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. Part of me is glad I don't have to go through all this hand wringing. What if I don't get picked in the lottery? Or what if I can't get tickets because FIFA holds all the cards here, right? This is the US and FIFA knows people will pay people like me.

[B]

Okay, so you are guaranteed a seat at the World Cup. Your seventh World Cup?

[A]

Yeah, I guess so. I'll be in my enormously overpriced seat. But hey, these hospitality seats include drinks and free finger foods, I think. But either way, I'll be there.

[B]

Well, Rafael, thank you for coming. I can't wait to live the World cup vicariously through you and all your free refills.

[A]

Well, thank you, Waylon.

[B]

This episode was produced by Corey Bridges with engineering by Robert Rodriguez. It was fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Kate Concannon edits the show and the indicator is a production of NPR Foreign this message comes from the Council for Interior Design Qualification Interior designer and CIDQ President Siyavash Madani discusses why certified professionals know that good design is more than just how something looks.

[D]

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[B]

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