The Business of the World Cup with The Athletic’s Henry Bushnell
It’s the first day of the 2026 World Cup! Ticket prices, transportation, security, visas, Attorneys General investigations and water bottles are just a few of the issues threatening to distract from the play on the pitch. Now that it's time for the football to actually be played, we will finally get some answers to the biggest outstanding questions: Will FIFA’s controversial ticketing strategy mean empty seats? Will host cities actually make back their investment? Will the legacy of this World …

