Watch for scams as the World Cup nears

Take the world’s biggest, most popular sports tournament and a limited supply of tickets. Mix those with international travel, online resale, betting, and viewing options—and what do you get? A scammer’s paradise.

While fans look forward to FIFA’s World Cup every four years in the hopes that their country’s team will take the trophy home, fraudsters look to the tournament to earn big bucks. After all, ESPN reports that FIFA, the international soccer organization behind the cup, should rake in $10 billion off 2026’s tournament.

If you’re one of the billions of fans expected to tune in, here’s how to cheer on your team without taking on a personal loss.

Scams to watch for around the FIFA World Cup

This June and July, 48 teams will take the field across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, each hoping to be crowned the 2026 FIFA World Cup champion. During the last tournament, an estimated 1.5 billion people watched the final match alone—numbers that help explain why the World Cup draws so much attention from scammers.

Cybersecurity researchers have already seen early signs of this activity. In August and September 2025, more than 4,300 newly registered domains cropped up using terms like “FIFA,” “World Cup,” and the names of host cities. The group reported that the domains aligned with three primary lures: counterfeit tickets, illicit streaming, and fake merchandise.

In other words, scammers see the same excitement fans do, and try to take advantage of it. Their goal may be to collect payment for tickets or merchandise that never arrive, or to trick you into sharing your personal details, login credentials, or financial information (which can lead to identity theft).

Ahead of major matches, fans have also raised concerns about rising costs. While higher prices can be real during high‑demand events, they can also create opportunities for scammers who prey on people rushing to lock something in or hunting for a last‑minute deal.

Ticket scams

With World Cup tickets ranging from $60 to $11,000, waves of ticket releases, and a complex surge-pricing model, it’s no wonder criminals think they can scam ticket-seeking fans. But hear this:

• The only official source for buying tickets is FIFA.com.

• The only official resale outlet is on FIFA.com.

• The only way to purchase “hospitality bundles” (think perks like premium seating with food and drink packages) is via FIFA-authorized On Location.

While transferable tickets can be found on reputable resale sites like Seat Geek, StubHub, and Vivid Seats, protections—if available—vary for shoppers who happen to buy a fake.

Even when tickets appear on resale sites, price can be a clue. Scammers often list tickets below current market value—sometimes claiming they’re just trying to “get their money back”—to make the offer seem legitimate.

Parking scams

Prices via the official FIFA partner app, JustPark, might be high, but payments and lots are secure. Keep in mind that only ticket holders can buy spots at certified FIFA lots. To avoid parking scams:

• Stick with official partners like JustPark for FIFA‑certified parking.

• Don’t scan QR codes on unofficial parking signs, flyers, or stickers (as advised per the Better Business Bureau (BBB)).

• Outside official lots, use city parking and rideshares to get closer to the venue.

• Avoid paying cash—or handing over cards—to private lot attendants and never give out your vehicle keys.

Rental property scams

When big events draw crowds, short‑term rentals can be hard to find—and that’s when rental property scams tend to surface.

Fraudsters may post fake listings or reuse real photos to convince travelers they’ve found the perfect place. To stay protected:

• Rent rooms and homes via long-standing, reputable lodging sites, like Airbnb.

• Use reverse image lookup to ensure a property exists and matches the given address.

Merchandise scams

It can be tempting to grab World Cup merch at bargain prices from unofficial sites—but it’s worth slowing down. Deep discounts sometimes come with long “shipping delays” that stretch on indefinitely, and the item may never arrive at all.

In the meantime, scammers can use those delays as cover to misuse your payment details or personal information. Unofficial gear may also be low quality, reviews might not be trustworthy, and getting a refund can be difficult, or impossible.

Safe streaming services

Fox Sports (Fox and FS1) will stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So, a streaming service like Sling TV, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu, Peacock, or YouTube TV that can access the channel will work.

FIFA’s website FIFA+ will also air some matches and highlights. Further, you can catch some matches (or the first 10 minutes of others) on FIFA’s YouTube channel.

Outside these leads, viewers are in “too good to be true” turf—where unofficial streams, fake apps, or cheap “subscription” links may steal your payment info, install malware, or collect your personal data.

Visa scams

Passports certify that a person is a citizen of a country. Visas are stamps and documents that allow a passport-holding foreign citizen to travel to and/or work in a host country for a set period of time. Non-U.S. citizens entering the country to attend a FIFA World Cup match need both a valid passport and a visa or a visa waiver. (A U.S. visa waiver is called an “ESTA,” short for electronic system for travel authorization.)

The only exceptions to these criteria are citizens of Canada or Bermuda, who only need their valid passports and match tickets to enter U.S.

Citizens of countries that qualify as “visa waiver countries” can typically get an ESTA within 72 hours of applying online. Those from other countries will need a regular visa, which can take days, weeks, or months.

To offset those wait times, FIFA World Cup match ticket holders can purchase a FIFA PASS to speed the process. Offers of fast, free, easy back-channel options to get into the country should be considered scams.

Big events like the FIFA World Cup bring excitement, energy—and unfortunately, scams that thrive on urgency and hype. The good news? Most tournament‑related scams rely on the same tactics, whether it’s fake tickets, unofficial merch, or too‑good‑to‑be‑true streaming offers.