Speaking to World Cup ticket brokers: 'I had sold a lot before owning any'

With less than four weeks to go until the start of the men’s World Cup, The Athletic has been speaking to secondary ticket sellers in the U.S. who are working on the tournament market.“It’s legal. A service. I help people get tickets. I’ve never held a gun to anyone’s head,” says one who, like the others quoted in this article, spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to talk freely about the inner workings of an industry that is likely to play a key role in fans’ ability to attend World Cup matches in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer.“Nobody ever feels bad for me when I lose money.”Advertisement