World Cup 2026

Levi's Stadium showed the contradiction clearly: FIFA could report a near-capacity crowd while the cameras found red seats. Dynamic pricing, resale fees and border friction did not break the spectacle. They revealed what it now values.

The expanded tournament opened across three nations — a record three red cards in Mexico, a US rout, a Canadian point — behind the largest security operation in its history, and to visible empty seats. The interesting part is the gap between the two. Spain is the favourite; access is the story.