India, Oct. 10 -- When FIFA announced the tickets for the 2026 World Cup would start at $60, football fans worldwide were relieved. That optimism among the football fanatics, however, was short-lived. However, as the first presale window opened last week, supporters discovered that the promised budget-friendly tickets were nowhere to be found. The actual prices of the tickets were at least five to 10 times higher.

The numbers tell us a sobering story. The cheapest ticket for the opening match has jumped from $55 in Qatar in 2022 to $560 in 2026 - nearly a tenfold increase. For the summit clash, the baseline ticket has soared from $206 to $2,030, meaning even the cheapest seat now costs more than the most expensive premium ticket did just...