Photo © Simon Lehmann | Dreamstime.com
Soccer scams are costing many Americans more than $100 ahead of World Cup 2026
As 28 percent of Americans prepare to follow the FIFA World Cup 2026, a NordVPN survey shows that scammers are already targeting soccer fans through betting scams, social media and messaging apps.
Soccer is one of America’s fastest-growing passions, and with the United States set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, excitement is building. But so are the risks.
A new NordVPN survey shows that 11 percent of American internet users encountered a soccer-related scam in 2024 and 2025, even as 28 percent say they plan to follow the upcoming tournament. With the FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace set to reopen on April 2, millions of fans will soon be hunting for tickets, accommodation and travel deals, and scammers are ready to meet them.
“Soccer scams work because they are built around emotion and urgency,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN. “When people are excited about a match, looking for tickets, chasing betting tips, or trying to find a stream at the last minute, they are much more likely to act first and verify later. That is exactly what scammers count on.”
How scammers are targeting soccer fans
Soccer scams in the United States take many forms, but some tactics appear far more often than others. Among those who encountered soccer-related scams, betting scams were the most common at 46 percent, closely followed by fake match ticket sales at 44 percent. Fake car rental offers for matches came in at 37 percent, while fraudulent fan club memberships and exclusive access offers were reported by 34 percent.
“These scams most often reach fans on the platforms they already use every day,” says Warmenhoven. “Facebook was the leading channel at 46 percent, followed by TikTok at 42 percent, Instagram at 37 percent and Telegram at 32 percent. Soccer scams are increasingly appearing on mainstream platforms where fans chat, follow clubs and consume match-related content.”
Why do the same scams keep working
The survey suggests that soccer scams often succeed not because fans are unfamiliar with online risks, but because they catch people at the wrong moment. Among those who lost money to a scam, the most common emotional states were stress (55 percent), frustration (53 percent) and excitement (29 percent). Victims were also most likely to be targeted during weekday evenings, typically during their time off, when their guard is down and they are more likely to react impulsively.
For some, that moment of distraction leads to real financial loss. Overall, 4 percent of Americans said they lost money to soccer-related scams. Among victims, losses most commonly ranged from $101 to $150. Most victims (62 percent) said they were targeted two or three times, while 28 percent were targeted four or more times, suggesting scammers often circle back to the same people once they’ve had a successful first hit.
“Every major soccer event brings a predictable spike in online scams, yet fans keep falling for the same playbook. The scammers simply update the branding, swap out the tournament name and run the same tricks all over again,” says Warmenhoven.
How to stay safe
When it comes to everyday habits, most Americans rely on reactive measures — 63 percent say they avoid clicking suspicious links and 58 percent avoid messages from unknown senders. However, more proactive steps like checking website security (28 percent), reading reviews on trusted sites (31 percent), or verifying a sender’s identity (32 percent) are far less common.
According to Adrianus Warmenhoven, for soccer fans, the most effective protections are often the simplest ones. Stick to official broadcasters, bookmakers and ticket sellers, ignore “guaranteed” betting tips or urgent offers shared through social media, treat illegal streams as a security risk rather than just a free viewing option and use a VPN for traffic encryption.
Methodology: This survey was commissioned by NordVPN and carried out by the Syno International panel between February 2 and 10, 2026. A total of 1000 respondents from the US, aged 18 to 64, were surveyed. Researchers placed quotas on respondents’ gender, age and place of residence to achieve a nationally representative sample among internet users.
About the Author
