500 Million Tickets Sought? Historic 2026 FIFA WC Frenzy Collides With Fan Safety Fears

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 11:01 IST

FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, but safety fears and political unrest in the United States are causing withdrawals among global fans.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw (AFP)

FIFA says the world still wants the World Cup, but cracks are starting to show.

FIFA revealed on Wednesday it received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, despite mounting controversy over sky-high prices, safety fears and political unrest in the United States.

Applications poured in from all 211 FIFA member nations, with demand strongest outside the host countries coming from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.

The most sought-after match? Colombia vs Portugal in Miami on June 27, followed by Mexico vs South Korea in Guadalajara and the final in New Jersey on July 19.

“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand — it’s a global statement," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino, while conceding the organisation “cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums."

Yet beneath the headline numbers, unease is growing.

According to reports from Roya News, around 16,800 fans withdrew from the ticket process overnight, amid escalating calls for boycotts spreading rapidly across social media.

FIFA’s strict no-refund policy means the figure likely reflects fans pulling out of Phase Three sales, including lottery applications and member-association purchases.

Overseas supporters have cited concerns about personal safety, policing and political instability while travelling in the US. The tipping point for many appears to have been a fatal ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis, which sparked fears of civil unrest and heavy-handed law enforcement during the tournament.

What was meant to be a global football celebration is increasingly shadowed by anxiety.

The 2026 World Cup will be historic — 48 teams, and the first jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. But instead of unfiltered anticipation, many fans from Europe, South America and Africa now say they are reconsidering travel altogether.

In response, FIFA has scheduled an emergency meeting this week with senior officials and tournament organisers. Talks are expected to focus on fan safety, declining ticket commitments and the reputational risk facing the biggest World Cup in history.

(with Reuters inputs)

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