World Cup 2026 cyber scams
Security firms warn scammers are running coordinated phishing campaigns, fake ticket shops and counterfeit merchandise stores ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Fraudsters are sending emails and links that mimic official FIFA and tournament partner pages, setting up clone ticket-resale websites and pop-up storefronts that accept payment but never deliver tickets or sell counterfeit jerseys. Scammers are also deploying malicious QR codes at events and fake customer-support numbers to harvest payment details and install malware on phones. That creates a heightened risk of financial loss, identity theft and device compromise for traveling fans and casual buyers during peak ticketing and travel windows, so verify sellers and use official channels and card protections when possible.
The World Cup, a tournament I have been obsessed with since I was old enough to know what football is, starts in three days, and I genuinely find myself completely uninterested. The vibes for this tournament are so rancid.
Conor C47It's hard to get excited for it when you hear reports of an Iraqi player being held for questioning for 7 hours upon arrival in Chicago
Hugo Gordon37Maybe that'll change once the tournament starts, I was ultimately won over by Qatar '22 as a festival of football despite hating so much about the tournament's wider context. But for now I'm finding it so hard to muster any enthusiasm.
Be_three31I feel sorry for Canada and Mexico having their turn at hosting the world cup ruined by the orange man.
KC26I'm not uninterested. However, I won't be watching - the first time in nearly 40 years. I also am not purchasing any World Cup sponsored goods. I know it isn't much, but it's my small contribution.
Llanc25Should have been moved, or cancelled. I despise FIFA and I hope they and the USA make huge losses.
John-J Anderson20Gotta take a moral stand somewhere. We didn't watch Russia, we didn't watch Qatar and we aren't watching this.
Neil16The FIFA Peace Prize made me want to never watch football again.
Thomas S. Pangborn9Any organization that provides a fake metal to a fascist dictator just to gain favor while having an event is just disgusting. Republican capitalism has destroyed the us and the world. Greed over humanity. But again, they love the undereducated.
Graeme-36🏴7I'm planning on trawling the Freeview channels and YouTube for footage from previous World Cups when football was the winner, not corporate greed, dodgy presidents and half-baked threats
Radical Guboya 🇪🇺🇪🇸🇺🇸🇲🇽🏴☠️6I hope it is a disaster for FIFA. I hope the stadiums in the USA are empty. I hope it turns into a worldwide humiliation for the USA becasue it is exactly what we deserve as a country today. I don't know of a single person who has tickets for any game.
Aelred John6Same. It’s so depressing. Qatar I ignored until England got to the quarters. It might be the same this time. And next ….. Saudi. The game has been sold out.
Doug HS 😶🌫️6You're not the only one Hugo. I hope it's a flop and Trump, FIFA and all of the corporates fleecing the loyal fans are made to look like the corrupt blaggers they are
European🇪🇺Antifascist5Russia '18 and Qatar '22 were ripe of human right violations and this year is no different. I stand by my point that the last real world cup was held in Brazil in '14. This was around the time desinformation campagnes started popping up on the internet. Been downhill ever since. Populists everywhere
Darren Shepherd5I don’t think you’re alone.
fakes right, goes left5The stench of poopy diapers and rage bleats in the morning
alacre.bsky.social5Same here. Rampant corruption, collaboration with Trump's authoritarian regime, acceptance of Israel's blatant brutality etc. But the world seems to think this is all ok and is enthusiastically preparing for the football "festival".
JamieK5Agree .. FIFA is corrupt enough, but then to kiss Trump's arse with a trophy was just sickening .. have no plans to watch any games
Jackie🇨🇭🇪🇺🇺🇦4I don't understand how amongst more than 1000 athletes invited to the world cup, not a single one refuses to play.
Pete Lastnamewithheld4The marketing for the event has all been around who can make a buck off the event. I don’t recall a single Go USA promo.
Enfinity Cast4The psychology of disillusionment with things we once loved is fascinating — when institutional corruption collides with childhood magic, something fundamental breaks in us that goes way beyond sports.
Marc Riggsbee3Greed and rancour ruin the beautiful game.
Heather3I’m so beyond angry. I’ve waited for decades (DECADES) for it to come back to the US. I remember the craziness of ‘94 in NYC. Was so looking forward to it again. Little did I know that there’d be craziness but not the good kind. I hate that I hope so hard this fails. The Olympics will be the same.
Iain3I have exactly the same feeling. Eurovision and the World Cup are not happening this year.
Richard Howes3It's a tiny gesture, but I wont be watching any games. I apply this rule to all fascist and/or authoritarian regimes holding sporting events. As a South African I supported the sports boycotts and bans during Apartheid, and I'll be boycotting this event for the same reason.
FrankHerbertIYKYH3I'm a football maniac and I won't be following it at all.
jagagn.bsky.social3This should be the most incredible summer with the 250th and the World Cup on home soil. Instead it’s *waves arms around wildly* My wife reminded me that we have to choose happiness. So I’m choosing to watch and get hyped because this is my fucking country too and fuck Republicans who shit on it.
Fine Leg🏏3I feel sorry for the players and their support teams...they want to play the game, being chosen for the national team is the pinnacle of their sport, football careers are short and brutal, most will never get another chance.
dragon7380.bsky.social3I doubt if the USA will EVER get the World Cup again after the disaster Trumps Administration put forward.
Marilyn Mazzotta2Fifa's own fault. If they could not figure out that there would be a problem, when he posted the first wave of bans upon the teams... Fifa should of moved everything to Can.&Mex. instead of giving the delusional Fifa Peace Prize! Shameful.
@luvnfiction2My company is a "proud sponsor" & every time I see the money they have spent on new orange aprons company-wide and pins for employees to wear and promo materials they have produced that could have gone towards raises or enhanced benefits, it makes me sick. 1/2
meribel123.bsky.social2Me too. I’ve always loved the competition but with the rampant corruption in FIFA and the headlining of Infantino & Trump Americanization of the games themselves I find myself hostile and unwilling to participate as a fan. Awful, isn’t it and so very sad for the beautiful game.⚽️☹️
Lee 1 (Pen)2I am just outside Boston this week, and there is no buzz or excitement. Nobody seems to care, except hotel owners as the prices have sky rocketed. I will return to UK on Thursday and forget all about it.
poorlarkin.bsky.social2I've decided my only, admittedly tiny, course of action is to boycott it. I'm not consuming any of the content to register my opposition to the way FIFA and Trump have wrecked what should be a global celebration.
Your Favourite Chicken Auntie2Never a footy fan but I watched WC/Euros in the past. This will be an easy boycott, as was Qatar.
Cevezito2We Brazilians couldn’t give a damn about it
This will go down as a major stain on FIFA and its World Cup before a ball has even been kicked. Infantino has been banging on about the most inclusive World Cup and Africa’s top referee can’t even get into the country. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/w...
Rocket Sago46Couldn't Fucking FIFA just assign him to gsmes played in Mexico & Canada? Too sensible? Or... FIFA is complicit.
Eamonn Quinn7Can this referee gain access to Canada and Mexico to officiate games based in those countries?
John Dettling3Assign the referee to the US game; tell the US if he not there at the game to referee, US forfeits. Will never happen, but I guess it would in West Wing.
El Sargento García3Wait until they start taking players, officials and fans to the ICE concentration camps.
palolololo.bsky.social3That's his #1 shithole country.
Christine Langhoff3I have the feeling there was some bribe the ref didn't know about that he needed to pay.
FIFA 2026 is almost here ⚽🌎 The first match at BC Place kicks off on June 13, 2026, with seven World Cup matches coming to Vancouver, including two Team Canada games. 🇨🇦🔥 #BCPlace #Vancouver2026 #FIFAWorldCup2026 #SheShed 1/2
CorrinaLeeB 🇨🇦57If you hear or spot fighter jets over Vancouver during FIFA 2026, don’t panic. 🇨🇦✈️ Canada and the U.S. will be conducting air patrols as part of security operations for World Cup matches & related events 🌎⚽️ #SheShed #Vancouver2026 #FIFAWorldCup2026 2/2
Ĵᵉᵈⁱ ⚔️ Řᵉᵍᵍⁱᵉ3So lovely Corrina, I wanted to go to The World Cup but the ticket prices here are ridiculous lmao
Maureen Berzanski 🧷🇺🇦🇺🇸🏳️🌈🟧🌊 🐾3Thank you for posting this. I’m worried it could be a sh**show the US
MGB💙2There should be some great matches. Looking forward to it! #SheShed
I don't know why they've given the world cup to a country that A) doesn't care about football, B) has terrible infrastructure and C) is currently fully fash.
Tristan Call7I mean, it's FIFA. They're not exactly known for caring about their fans, or players, or their own reputation.
Jawn Claude Van Damme4Because FIFA is fully fash supportive
AlanWithTea || The Indie Ocean3Entice live football fans from all over the world to travel to a country that's actively dangerous for people to travel to!
justaconcernedguy.bsky.social2well, FIFA is currently fully fash, and the two or happily accepting bribes and money laundering
The Lush Kitch2I don't know why anyone is following the world cup after Qatar.
