<p>The biggest party in global sport is underway, and soccer's governing body stands to profit nearly $9 billion. How did FIFA squeeze U.S. taxpayers with so many hidden costs? The Athletic's Adam Crafton crunches the numbers on wasted public money, as Pablo dissects comically absurd demands upon host cities — from "clean" stadiums and super-V.I.P. treatment... to a pop-up jail.</p><br><p>• Take the <a href="https://forms.gle/i2K6FecAbvBqDxRK9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PTFO audience survey</a></p><p>• Subscribe to <a href="https://pablo.show/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pablo's newsletter</a></p><p>• Subscribe to <a href="https://theathletic.onelink.me/eNRy/ptfo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Athletic</a></p><br><p>Further reading:</p><p>• <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/article/7314190/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The U.S. signed up for the World Cup — and its host cities are paying for it"</a></p><p>• <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7321482/2026/06/10/world-cup-tax-waived-games/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"U.S. states waived taxes to host World Cup"</a></p><p>• <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7309921/2026/06/09/world-cup-argentina-kansas-city-jail/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The $25.8m Kansas City 'World Cup jail'"</a></p><p>• <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7318897/2026/06/08/world-cup-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-2026/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rahm Emanuel Q&amp;A: 'The numbers don't work'"</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>