The World Cup is just around the corner. As the hype builds in San Diego, the scramble for tickets will also intensify — the type of scramble that may cause fans to ignore their better judgment should they be targeted by scammers.

World Cup fever

“This team went in 1975 as the Iranian National Team,” said Yousef Mahdavi, pointing to old newspaper clippings and pictures pinned to a wall inside his store, Soccer USA, in San Diego.

Yousef Mahdavi shows pictures of his time as a member of the Iranian National team in 1975.

Few will ever know what it’s like to represent your country at the highest level. Fewer will know what it’s like to score at the international level. Even Mahdavi had a hard time explaining.

“You know that it’s going to goal, it’s not a goal yet, but you know it,” he said, reaching back 50 years into his past. “Before anyone knows, you know it’s going to be a goal.”

Those days may be long gone for Mahdavi, but his love for soccer never went away. He still eats and breathes the sport. Imagine his happiness knowing the World Cup 2026 merchandise is already popping up inside his store.

He said many customers are already talking about buying tickets for games that will be played in Los Angeles.

The scramble for tickets

Corey Snyder from the Better Business Bureau in San Diego is also looking and will scrape the internet to land some tickets.

“Definitely looking forward to the World Cup, big SDFC fan, season ticket holder for the first year, and I’m ready to see Chucky [Lozano] play for the Mexican team,” he said.

Corey Snyder from the Better Business Bureau explains how ticket scams work and how to identify them.

He added that nothing compares to watching in person two countries duel it out on the soccer field.

“When you’re in person, and you have that supporter section going, and you hear the chants and the drums and everything building, it’s definitely a lot more exciting than just watching it at home on TV, and that atmosphere really makes it worth those ticket prices,” Snyder said.

However, he has a warning for those determined to score tickets: don’t let a scammer score on you.

“It’s always great to be aware of how to take care of yourself and make sure that you see the red flags and know how to recognize those when trying to buy from a reseller,” Snyder said.

Score tickets safely

Check the venue – This is a great place to start, and then move to reputable reseller websites that guarantee your purchase.

Pay with a credit card – They tend to offer protections against scams.

Check online reviews – Find out what others are saying about the website selling World Cup tickets. Do this before sending any money or personal information.

Be skeptical of travel package deals – Some companies may guarantee tickets and may intend to get them later, but may not be able to.

“Those are the ones you have to watch out for the most, especially if you’re not getting the tickets right when you buy the package,” Snyder said.

“I didn’t know those things were happening,” said Mahdavi, explaining that he hates the idea of scams taking advantage of the world’s passion for soccer.

FIFA and the FTC also sent alerts regarding World Cup ticket scams. If you bump into one, you can report it to the FTC so they can possibly shut it down.