The World Cup is set to begin on Thursday, with FIFA charging record ticket prices across venues in North America. According to reporting from ABC News and The Independent, the tournament’s matches are scheduled across 11 stadiums in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. Both outlets focus on how pricing and ticket availability are structured for the upcoming tournament, noting that FIFA’s pricing for this edition is at its highest level. The articles provide guidance for fans who are still considering purchasing tickets, directing attention to where tickets are available by location and how much they cost at different stadiums. The coverage also underscores that the ticketing landscape is shaped by the distribution of venues across the three countries hosting matches. Overall, both sources align on the start date of the tournament and the extent of the host footprint—United States, Mexico, and Canada—along with the key point that FIFA is implementing record prices for fans buying tickets for the event’s venues.