Just 52 days before the initial whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2026, football fever in Mexico has raised alarms among authorities. Given the high demand for tickets, flights, and accommodation in the venues of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) has launched an operation to prevent and alert the public about fraudulent offers, both for tickets and tourist packages.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026–Social World Cup program is focused on “monitoring advertising for related products and services connected to the World Cup celebration” and identifying schemes that deceive consumers through non-existent offers or unclear conditions, as stated in a press release.
Additionally, the agency seeks to ensure that sellers of sporting goods, souvenirs, and food respect the advertised prices.
How to identify scams, according to Profeco
According to the authority, scammers use social media and messaging apps to promise packages that include transport, hotel, and tickets for a cost significantly lower than the market average.
These offers arise in a context of protests and questioning over high ticket prices. The World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States is the most expensive in history for fans, with an increase of between 100% and 800% for the cheapest tickets. According to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the cheapest tickets, on sale last October, were priced from 60 dollars (around 1,037 Mexican pesos). But the most expensive tickets cost around 6,730 dollars.
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The authority has called to “distrust unusually low prices and acquire products and contract services from authorized stores and official websites.” Furthermore, the sale of tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is subject to a strict exclusivity regime.
Some recommendations to ensure a safe purchase, before making any transfer, are as follows, according to the agency:
- Check the company’s complaint history. This can be done at Profeco’s Business Bureau.
- Validate that the final price includes taxes and service charges.
- Research other users’ experiences to detect patterns of non-compliance.
- Ensure that the offer conditions have not been arbitrarily modified.
How to report fraud or abuse?
Profeco has specific channels to assist fans affected by misleading advertising or breach of contract.
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- Consumer Hotlines: 55 5568 8722 in Mexico City) and 800 468 8722 in the rest of the country.
- Email addresses: denunciapublicitaria@profeco.gob.mx and denunciasmundial@profeco.gob.mx
- Social Networks: @AtencionProfeco and @ProfecoOficial
