Fifa World Cup

How fans are becoming biggest casualties of FIFA's expensive 2026 World Cup

Rising ticket prices, dynamic pricing models, and the logistical complexity of a three-country hosting format are creating a situation where the very fans might be priced out of the experience.

Fifa puts World Cup playoff tickets on sale for less than $17 in Mexico

Tickets for the playoffs in Mexico that will determine two of the final World Cup berths are being sold by FIFA for less than $17, far less than the $4,185 to $8,680 FIFA is charging for this year's final in New Jersey. FIFA put tickets on sale Tuesday for the games on March 26 and 31 in Guadalajara and Monterrey involving Bolivia, Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname. Tickets are priced at 200 Mexican pesos ($11.30) for the March 26 semifinals and 300 pesos ($16.95) for the March 31 finals. In Guadalajara, Jamaica plays New Caledonia on March 26 and the winner plays Congo on March 31 for a World Cup berth. In Monterrey, Bolivia faces Suriname on March 26 and the winner goes up against Iraq five days later.

FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets oversubscribed 30 times amid West Asia unrest

With 100 days to go before kick-off, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already rewriting records - not on the pitch, but at the ticket counter.

FIFA eyes Iraq as replacement if Iran opts to withdraw from World Cup

Iran's place at the men's World Cup in three months' time was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament's co-host the United States. Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. - two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle - from June 15-26. Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials. It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition. "What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," said Iran's top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation. It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to sen

Will Iran boycott 2026 FIFA World Cup in US? Here's what IFF president says

Iran's potential absence from the tournament comes amid rising military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel

US visa denied despite Fifa WC tickets: Indian businessman explains ordeal

US visa cancelled: An Indian managing director said his B1/B2 visa was denied under Section 214(b) even after securing Fifa World Cup 2026 tickets

FIFA gives green light for Scotland fans to sport sporrans at World Cup

Scotland supporters can wear their kilts in all their customary glory at the World Cup. The Scottish Football Association told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it had reached agreement with FIFA for sporrans the traditional fur or leather pouch worn in front of the kilt to be permitted at games despite contravening security limits for entry into stadiums in the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Canada and Mexico. Scotland has been drawn in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti with two games in Boston and one in Miami. "FIFA have confirmed that sporrans will be permitted into the stadiums following the standard search and inspection procedures and will continue to work together with the Scottish FA to educate their matchday staff as they prepare to welcome fans to Boston and Miami," Scottish FA spokesperson Graeme Thewliss said. Officials are restricting World Cup ticket holders to only bringing clear see-through bags, or small bags tha

Bad Bunny wearing Pele's 1966 World Cup jacket draws global attention

A jacket worn by football legend Pele in the 1966 World Cup has become a hit among fans of pop singer Bad Bunny since he borrowed it from a collector's sports merchandise store and used it in his recent concerts in Sao Paulo, in his first performances on Brazilian soil. Bad Bunny's tribute to the three-time World Cup winner, who died in 2022 at age 82, also included a change in the lyrics of the song MONACO, sung by the Puerto Rican artist as "scoring a goal after Pele and Maradona" instead of "Messi and Maradona." Cassio Brandao, the owner of the Alambrado Futebol e Cultura store, seeks historical soccer memorabilia and jerseys and has more than 7,000 of them. He owns 115 items that belonged to Pele and was involved in Bad Bunny's choice for the jacket. "He took very good care of the piece. It came back only with sweat, wet with sweat, but it was perfect, in the same condition. They were very careful. It returned in the same suitcase," Brandao said. Pele's official Instagram later

Will FIFA take 2026 WC host rights away from Guadalajara amid cartel chaos?

FIFA regulations for the 2026 World Cup allow the governing body to "cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches, or the entire tournament, at its discretion" due to safety, health, or security

World Cup build-up influences MLS opening as league eyes 2027 change

Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential two-year stretches in the league's history. There's the impact of the World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then, in 2027, MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align more closely with its international counterparts. MLS will take a seven-week break for the World Cup from May 25 to July 16. Many of the league's stars, including Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and LAFC's Son Heung-min, are expected to play in the tournament. MLS is hoping after that to see the so-called "World Cup Bump," or a surge in interest that both men's and women's leagues often experience around soccer's premier tournament. "The World Cup will accelerate the growth of the sport across North America in ways we've never seen before. Major League Soccer is uniquely positioned at the center of that moment, with all 13 host cities in the U.S. and Canada home to MLS clubs," Commissio

Indian travelers on the lookout for new international destinations in 2026

From Vietnam to Spain, Indian travellers in 2026 are chasing new destinations and personalised experiences, with Gen Z driving event-led trips around concerts, festivals and global sports

India set to appoint Amelia Valverde as coach ahead of AFC Women's Asia Cup

Having managed Costa Rica's women's national team at two FIFA World Cups, she brings a wealth of knowledge to India.

FIFA World Cup to UCL: Check major football events schedule for 2026

The excitement begins with the continuation of Europe's top football leagues, where some of the world's best clubs and players will battle it out for domestic glory.

Netflix to bring FIFA football game ahead of world cup 2026: What to expect

The Netflix-exclusive football game will launch ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, be playable on TVs and phones, and is being developed by Delphi Interactive

Messi's India outing: Laser-lit skylines, packed stadiums, frenzied fans

Delhi braces for Argentina superstar's arrival as memories of Kolkata linger and football fever grips the country

Fifa's World Cup sycophancy is dirtying the beautiful game with polluters

The award was handed out at a glitzy draw event for the World Cup, set to take place next summer across three countries - Canada, the United States and Mexico

New FIFA World Cup ticket phase begins, letting fans pick specific fixtures

Soccer fans were able to apply for tickets to watch specific matches at next year's World Cup for the first time on Thursday as FIFA opened up its latest phase of sales. Following last week's draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published. That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place. Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups. Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for. The third phase of ticket sales is called the Random Selection Draw and fans will be informed if they have been ...

Fans accuse FIFA of 'monumental betrayal' after new World Cup pricing

Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a "monumental betrayal" after latest prices for World Cup tickets began to circulate. The governing body allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans. And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680. Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA's claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games. Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as extortionate. This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is, it said in a statement. The English Football ...

FIFA World Cup 2026: Which group truly deserves the 'Group of Death' tag?

With the shift to a 48-team, 12-group format, the competition appears more evenly spread, yet these two groups stand out due to their depth, unpredictability, and overall difficulty.

Could Ronaldo meet Messi at the FIFA World Cup 2026? The path explained

The last time Cristiano Ronaldo faced Lionel Messi in an international football match was back in November. 2014 when both Argentina and Portugal played an international friendly at Old Trafford.