FIFA’s 2026 World Cup is right around the corner, the 48 teams are set in stone, and fans are feeling the ticket price pinch.

Let’s dive into the latest World Cup news.

World Cup Dollars and Dinero

Money is on everyone’s mind. Fans are frustrated by ticket prices, teams feel FIFA is being stingy with subsidies, and UEFA is aggressively lobbying for larger payouts.

Last Phase of Ticket Sales Has Fans Kicking and Screaming

Have you tried to buy World Cup tickets during the latest phase? Instead of a lottery system, it’s first-come, first-served. But the roll out was plagued with problems, and fans were fuming.
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After waiting for hours in online queues, hopeful ticket buyers were greeted with a “NO PRODUCTS AVAILABLE” error page. What happened? FIFA sent out a bad link to some people.
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Those who found the purchase page were flabbergasted by the prices. Due to the controversial dynamic pricing matrix, Category 1 tickets that originally sold for $6,370 are now over $10,000. Category 2 tickets currently cost about $7,380, and Category 3, $5,785 – more than twice the original price.
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According to reports, tickets for 40 of the 104 matches are now significantly more expensive than in previous purchasing phases.
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If you’re still hoping to get tickets, FIFA says there will be a few more chances, with more ticket releases planned soon.

Should Teams and Leagues Get More of FIFA’s Money?

On the federation management side, UEFA officials have been questioning FIFA’s finances and now want more money. Specifically, the European association wants the international organization to increase the World Cup’s prize pot.
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FIFA says it plans to reinvest 90% of the World Cup proceeds into supporting “global football initiatives,” but people are wondering, “What do they mean by that?” After all, huge bonuses to FIFA executives could, technically, be considered support of “global football initiatives.”
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So who is right? Should FIFA give more money to the leagues and teams that develop the players that make the tournament so profitable, or are the leagues asking for too much? Here are the facts so you can decide:

• In February, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that this year’s World Cup is expected to rake in over $11 billion for his organization.
• Leagues garner significantly less money during World Cup years due to player participation fees and the mandatory break in regular play, resulting in lost ticket sales and diminished regional revenue from associated economic stimulation.
• FIFA is providing each of the 48 competing teams $1.5 million in preparation costs.
• During the tournament, FIFA foots teams’ bills for food, travel to and around the tournament, in addition to five-star resort accommodations, estimated to be about $40,000 per day, per team. However, FIFA will only pay for up to 50 people. Most squads have a much larger entourage – including trainers, support staff, and doctors – for which teams and leagues must cover the costs.
• FIFA only pays per diems, travel, and lodging for five days before the tournament starts, and up to one night following a team’s elimination date.
• Teams are responsible for purchasing proper travel and injury insurance for their entire delegation.
• FIFA covers all referee costs, doping control expenses, and equipment trucks.
• Most teams fly out to their World Cup home base long before the five days for which FIFA pays. At this level of play, it’s vital to get acclimated and purge any travel kinks before the tournament begins. Teams are responsible for footing all bills during the camp period, which costs millions of dollars. For example, dedicated training facilities can cost clubs between $25,000 and $50,000 per day – and that doesn’t include food, lodging, or transportation.

This year’s prize pool is $655 million, which is much higher than the $440 million from the last World Cup in Qatar. However, the money will be split among 16 more teams this time.
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Here’s how the 2026 FIFA World Cup prize money will be divided:

• Winners: $50 million
• Runners-up: $33 million
• Beaten quarter finalists: $19 million
• Group stage exits: $9 million

Each team will receive $1.5 million to prepare and at least $9 million to play in the tournament, so every nation will receive $10.5 million.
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Clubs are also concerned about US taxes. Since the stateside tax code is complicated and variable, figuring out finances will be messy and costly. If not done right, penalties will pile up.

And yes, in addition to paying sales taxes, every team must cough up significant income taxes to Uncle Sam and state governments.

Italy Is Out

“It’s evident to everyone that Italian football needs to be overhauled.” So said Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi last week after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, again.
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This time, Bosnia and Herzegovina got the better of them.
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Early on, Moise Kean slammed one in the back of the net for Italy, and the team held their side. As the game wore on deep into the second half, it looked like The Blues would qualify for their first World Cup since 2014.
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However, as the saying goes, never count your chickens – or goals – before they hatch.
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With 12 minutes remaining, Haris Tabaković guided a rebound into the net, tying the game. Extra time came and went without a goal, and the match ended in a shootout.
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Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed for Italy, and 21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević – who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and played on the New England Revolution – masterfully snuck a no-look penalty past Italy’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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Immediately following the match, coach Gennaro Gattuso called his team’s efforts “heroic” but characterized the current state of men’s Italian football as “a time of great crisis.” He lamented that his team “didn’t deserve to take a beating like that” and that he was “proud of the lads.”
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But the repercussions were swift. Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina immediately resigned, as did Gianluigi Buffon, FIGC’s delegation head. A few days later, Gattuso also bowed out, saying, “With pain in my heart, having failed to achieve the target we set ourselves, I am bringing an end to my experience as national team boss.”

Iraq and Iran Are In

Iran and Iraq will both participate in the World Cup for the first time in years.

Despite War, Iran Will Play in the United States

Due to the US executive branch’s measures against Iran, uncertainty surrounded Team Iran’s participation in the World Cup. At one point, the Iranian delegation even requested that FIFA relocate all its matches to Mexico.
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To address these concerns, last week, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino met with the Iranian club. Afterward, he reported that “everything is fine,” assuring fans the team will play where scheduled. Infantino also expressed hope that their participation will deliver “a positive message of humanity and togetherness in the world.”

Iraq Finally Qualified After 40 Years

Iran’s geographical neighbor is also going to the show. Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in the final qualifying match, marking the first time since 986 that the nation has secured a World Cup spot. Iraqis from around the world traveled to Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to cheer on their team, and the stands were electric.
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The athletes also had a long journey to the game. Since the airspace surrounding Iraq is closed, they had to drive 10 hours to an airport from which they could take off.
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Of the win, Ali Al-Hamadi, one of the team’s stars, joyfully explained, “Iraqi people are known for our heart, fighting, and battling. It’s the story of the Iraqi people.” And battle they did. After playing more qualifying games than any other team, they clinched the very last spot in the tournament.
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What are their chances of advancing at the World Cup? Never say never, but they’re slated for Group I, arguably the hardest, with France, Senegal, and Norway.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th. It’s the biggest one yet, with 48 teams, across three countries, and 16 cities. Tickets are still available for some games.