From parking to water, where World Cup fans are feeling the squeeze
It wasn't too good to be true, but it was too good to remain true.
World Cup fans still reeling from FIFA's pricey water policy change have a new gripe: Soccer's governing body is demanding payment from about 60 people who secured tickets for free because of a glitch on the FIFA website during checkout.
FIFA confirmed the mistake with a swift response, issuing a statement that said pay up or stay home:
"The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount. FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused."
What, did anyone think a governing body denying fans free water in the summer heat would allow 60 souls into stadiums without paying admission? Even when FIFA admitted its mistake?
One week before matches begin in 16 North American venues, including SoFi Stadium that will be referred to during the tournament as Los Angeles Stadium, FIFA reversed its policy that allowed refillable plastic bottles when temperatures were high enough to justify it.
Now, no plastic water bottles are allowed except the ones sold in the stadium. Last summer during the Club World Cup, bottled water at FIFA venues fetched $4 to $6.
Coca-Cola products will be sold at all World Cup venues, including Dasani water. In a statement to the Athletic, FIFA skirted questions about whether it was influenced by commercial priorities.
"The decision to prohibit capped water bottles is based on a number of factors related to safety and security, including mitigating risks to players and spectators, ensuring a safe and efficient ingress experience for all attendees, and the presence of additional heat mitigation and alternative hydration strategies at FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums," the statement read.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow questioned FIFA's motive.
"Why do you need to buy a water bottle when you can just carry your water in? It is cheaper that way and it is good for the environment," Chow told CTV News. "It is outrageous. They are just trying to make more money. They are already making billions of dollars. Stop it."
Chow's ire likely grew upon learning that the group-stage matches the 60 people who now must pay for tickets FIFA mistakenly provided them are all in Toronto.
Complaints have mushroomed for months about World Cup ticket price fluctuations caused by sophisticated algorithms that can dramatically increase costs based on demand. Prices adjust in real time, increasing when interest surges.
The attorneys general of New Jersey and New York a week ago launched an investigation into World Cup ticket sales following reports that fans were misled about the locations of seats they purchased.
The attorneys general sent subpoenas to FIFA, requesting details about ticketing practices for eight World Cup matches hosted in New Jersey, including the World Cup final.
FIFA has about $6.14 billion in total assets and $3 billion in cash reserves.
The organization has defended its steep ticket prices, saying they reflect standard practices for major global sporting and entertainment events.
Longtime soccer journalist Simon Kuper explained to The Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter that FIFA can maximize profits because it has no competition.
"If you think of McDonald's or Nike, they're trying to please consumers because they know the consumers can go someplace else," Kuper said. "There's only one World Cup, so FIFA is a monopoly purveyor. It's more like one man running the cash box."
Parking will be another opportunity to generate revenue. A spot nearly two miles from SoFi Stadium will cost $300 for the US opener against Paraguay.
2026 World Cup viewer's guide: Format, new rules, how to watch and everything you need to know before kickoff
The 2026 World Cup is the first men's World Cup in the United States since the 1994 tournament, and it's unlike any World Cup ever played.
Here's everything you need to know to be ready when the tournament kicks off this week.
Where and when is the 2026 World Cup?
The tournament begins Thursday with Mexico hosting South Africa at Mexico City's famed Estadio Azteca. The first game in the United States is the following day, as the U.S. faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday.
The group stage runs through June 27, with the first off day coming July 8 before the quarterfinals. The final is Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Kickoff times range from noon ET to midnight ET, with four games per day from June 13 to June 23 and six games per day for group finales from June 24 to June 27.
This World Cup will be the first one that is played in three countries, as the U.S., Canada and Mexico serve as co-hosts. Canada (two cities) and Mexico (three) will each host 13 games, and the remaining 78 matches are in 11 cities across the U.S., including all eight games from the quarterfinals onward.
Tournament format
With 48 teams, this is the biggest World Cup ever, a 50% increase from the 2022 tournament. The expansion means 104 total matches, 40 more than the previous World Cup.
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As usual, the 48 teams are divided into groups of four for the 72 games in the group stage. Following round-robin group play, the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage, as do the eight best third-place teams.
In a change this year, the first group tiebreaker is not goal difference, but rather head-to-head result, followed by head-to-head goal difference and head-to-head goals in the case of a tie between more than two teams. If teams are even on the head-to-head tiebreakers, overall group goal difference is next, followed by total goals scored, then fewest disciplinary points (a scoring system for yellow and red cards).
With the expanded World Cup comes an expanded knockout stage — beginning with the Round of 32 and lasting through the final — with extra time and penalty kicks deciding which team advances if the score is tied after regulation.
What else is new at this World Cup?
Beyond the format, a handful of rule changes are designed to keep the games moving, and one change will pause the action in each half:
Every match will have mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half. This will allow players a brief respite from the hot conditions, giving media rights-holders an opportunity to sell additional ads.
Players have five seconds to restart play on dead balls including throw-ins and goal kicks.
Players have 10 seconds to leave the field when substituted.
A player who receives medical treatment must stay off the field for one minute, with the exception of players who are injured on plays that received a card.
The team captain is the only player allowed to approach the referee and protest or question a decision. Other players who do so may receive a yellow card.
The Video Assistant Referee may review second yellow cards and corner kicks, in the case of clear and obvious errors.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup
In the United States, all 104 matches are in English on Fox (70) and FS1 (34), and all are streamed on Fox One.
For those who prefer Spanish-language broadcasts, 92 games will be on Telemundo, with the other 12 matches (all simultaneous group finales) on Universo.
Which countries are the favorites?
The usual suspects for the most part, headed by five previous winners. 2022 runner-up France (+450) and reigning European champion Spain are the top two betting favorites, followed by England (+650), defending champion Argentina (+800) and five-time winner Brazil (+800).
The next tier includes always-talented Portugal (10-1), a Germany side that has shockingly gone out in two straight group stages (14-1), Netherlands (20-1), Erling Haaland's Norway (25-1) and a Belgium team in transition (33-1).
Who are the Cinderellas?
This is the ninth men's World Cup played in the Americas, and seven of the previous eight have been won by South American teams, with Germany winning in Brazil in 2014 as the lone exception. The hot weather is generally more challenging for European teams to handle, so watch out for a sleeper South American team to make a run, perhaps Colombia (40-1 to win the title), Uruguay (50-1) or Ecuador (66-1).
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All but two World Cup host nations have made the knockout stage, so the United States (40-1) or Mexico (66-1) could make a deep run like unheralded South Korea did as co-host in 2002.
If you're looking for an Asian team to pull upsets this tournament, go with a Japan side that knocked off Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup and has a roster full of players from Europe's top leagues.
Even with aging stars, Croatia has to be considered a Cinderella again, after finishing runner-up in 2018 and third in 2022. Switzerland and Türkiye are among the other solid European teams that have talent to make noise.
Morocco has to be on the sleeper list as well after making the semis four years ago, and fellow Africa Cup of Nations finalist Senegal also has the right mix of veterans and youth to do likewise.
What are expectations for the United States?
The U.S. men's national team is currently 16th in FIFA's rankings and has the 11th-best title odds at +4000. Both those numbers are optimistic about where the U.S. ranks in the global pecking order.
But playing at home in a group without a traditional power, the U.S. is still the Group D favorite, and a group-stage elimination would be an utter catastrophe. Realistic expectations have the U.S. finishing top two in the group and winning a favorable Round-of-32 matchup, then running into a top-10 caliber team in the Round of 16. Advancing in the knockout stage is far from a given for the U.S., which has done so only once in World Cup history (2002).
Who are the stars to watch?
With 48 teams and most prominent soccer nations present (apologies to Italy, Nigeria, Cameroon, Poland and others), this World Cup will feature a boatload of stars from the past, present and future.
Making their last stand
Two of the all-time greats are poised to be the first men to play in six World Cups. Argentina's Lionel Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2022 tournament, tallying seven goals and three assists. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is already the only man to score at five World Cups, as the 41-year-old strives for the one major international trophy that has eluded him.
At age 40, Croatia's Luka Modrić will be back for a fifth World Cup, assuming he recovers from cheekbone surgery in time. Modric won the Golden Ball at the 2018 tournament, where Croatia was runner-up to France, and he led the team to a third-place finish in 2022.
Tips of talented spears
The tournament favorites are filled with attackers who could all shine. France's Kylian Mbappé already has 12 World Cup goals, tied for sixth-most all-time with Pelé, and Mbappé needs five more goals to break Miroslav Klose's men's World Cup record.
France also features reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who has not scored in 11 previous World Cup games but has over 50 goals for PSG the last two seasons.
Lamine Yamal (18 years old) was runner-up to Dembélé for last year's Ballon d'Or, after winning two trophies with Barcelona and the Euro 2024 title with Spain. He'll be in a fitness race after suffering a hamstring injury in late April.
Harry Kane has over 50 goals for Bayern Munich this season alone, and he remains England's best option up top. England's career goals leader won the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup, and he's two goals shy of tying Gary Lineker's English record of 10 World Cup goals.
As usual, Brazil has plenty of attacking options, led by a pair of La Liga stalwarts. VinÃcius Júnior has over 125 goals for Real Madrid, but he's rarely replicated his club form on the international stage. Raphinha led Brazil with six goals in qualifying, but he has not played for Barcelona since injuring his hamstring during the March international break.
Can they carry their teams to the promised land?
Bruno Fernandes is hardly the only weapon on a loaded Portugal team, but he's the engine that will make them go, much like he does for Manchester United.
The best pure striker in the world, Man City's Erling Haaland has Norway at the World Cup for the first time since 1998. He scored nearly half of Norway's 34 goals in qualifying, with 16 goals in eight games.
Mo Salah is leaving Liverpool after this season, and this may be the last World Cup for the 33-year-old. He'll look to lead Egypt to a first-ever World Cup win in the nation's fourth appearance.
Four years ago, right back Achraf Hakimi helped make Morocco the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals. He's won a cabinet full of trophies with PSG, and he also led Morocco to the Africa Cup of Nations final in January.
Club stars ready to shine on the international stage
With Mbappé and Dembélé, France doesn't need more attacking weapons, but they have plenty of others in the squad. Bayern Munich's Michael Olise is among this year's Ballon d'Or favorites after reaching 20 goals and 20 assists this season. Rayan Cherki has shined for Manchester City this season, piling up double digits in both goals and assists.
If you watched the U.S.-Belgium friendly in March, you saw Jeremy Doku wreak havoc down the left side. He's done the same for Man City this season, and he leads a new generation of Belgian stars.
If Colombia does make a run, Luis Suárez may become as well-known as his teammate Luis DÃaz. Suarez has topped 30 goals for Portuguese club Sporting this season, and he had four goals vs. Venezuela in a qualifier last September.
Americans to watch
Most of the U.S. stars are back from the 2022 World Cup, where the U.S. made the Round of 16 before losing 3-1 to Netherlands.
Christian Pulisic remains the face of the team, though he's been slumping for club and country lately. Pulisic hasn't scored in his last eight caps, the longest drought of his U.S. career, and he's gone over four months without scoring for AC Milan (as of May 1), last notching a goal back on Dec. 28.
Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are expected to man the U.S. midfield. McKennie has nine goals and six assists while playing all over the field for Juventus this season. As long as he's healthy, Adams stars for Premier League club Bournemouth and puts out fires from his defensive midfield spot. Antonee Robinson may be the most irreplaceable U.S. player, as the Fulham left back has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Liverpool this summer.
Two faces who may be new to casual fans are Chris Richards, who starts regularly for Premier League club Crystal Palace and is the best U.S. center back option, and forward Folarin Balogun, who scored in eight straight Ligue 1 games for Monaco this season.
Put your predictions to the test
Ready to put your World Cup knowledge to the test this summer? 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One is a new free-to-play Yahoo Fantasy game where fans make picks each round, earn points and climb the leaderboard.
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There are plenty of ways to get in on the fun. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends for bragging rights, join a public group to play with other fans or take it up a notch and compete in a featured group against some of your favorite soccer analysts and media personalities — like the ones below!
