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It’s 2026’s first Friday!
Hello, Curse and Coffee friends,
Today, we explore the World Cup cash grab.
Hit reply and let us know what you think (we read all of your kind words).
Coffee at the ready…
The Big Sip
The take: FIFA created a $60 "affordable" tier after global backlash (it covers 1.6% of seats).
What happened: FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended 2026 World Cup pricing at the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday, citing 150 million ticket requests as proof the strategy works.
Why it matters: The $60 tier allocates roughly 660 tickets per team at the final (that's 0.8% per nation at an 82,500-seat venue).
What to watch: Final tickets through national associations start at $4,185 and climb to $8,860 for premium seats.
Infantino called 150 million requests "unprecedented demand." So is a bank run. Doesn't make it good.
Sponsor Break
Before we slurp into today’s brew…
Here are some wordies from today’s sponsor.
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