The report describes a tournament expected to feature 104 matches across 16 cities. It says ticket demand has already far exceeded supply, with more than 150 million requests recorded during the first 15 days of sales.
That imbalance gives scammers an effective sales pitch: act immediately or lose your place. The report also says more than 13,000 -themed domains were registered between January and May, with roughly one in 41 flagged as suspicious or malicious. It cites more than 4,300 fraudulent domains imitating ’s official online presence.
Those figures remain single-report claims, but the pattern is clear: a global event with limited access creates ideal conditions for fraud.
Traditional warning signs are becoming less reliable. Poor spelling, awkward formatting and strange email addresses can still raise concerns, but AI allows criminals to create polished copy, personalised messages and realistic websites at speed.
Fake ticket pages may appear alongside bogus immigration services, accommodation deals and counterfeit merchandise. Supporters should be especially cautious when an offer demands immediate payment, promises guaranteed access or directs them away from official channels.
As further ticket sales and travel bookings approach, scam attempts are likely to intensify. The next test will be whether organisers, technology companies and law enforcement can disrupt these networks before fans commit money and personal documents.
For supporters, patience will matter. The safest route to the 2026 World Cup will be resisting panic and treating every unofficial offer as unproven until it has been independently verified.