Is the 2026 FIFA World Cup at risk? Alarm bells rang at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday after thousands of fans reportedly canceled their tickets to attend matches in the United States, following calls for a boycott on social media.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is scheduled to begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19, featuring 104 matches-78 of them on U.S. soil.
In late December, media reports indicated that FIFA had received 150 million ticket requests. The organization estimates that actual sales could reach between 6 and 7 million tickets.
However, the domestic political climate and international tensions surrounding the United States have raised concerns among fans, fueling calls to boycott the tournament.
Massive ticket cancellations raise concerns
A recent report from Royal News revealed that approximately 16,800 people canceled their tickets over the weekend, with many of the cancellations occurring within 24 hours.
According to the outlet, fans cited safety concerns, political protest, and human rights issues in the U.S. under Donald Trump’s administration as reasons for withdrawing.
Posts using the hashtag #BoycottWorldCup have circulated widely on social media, with fans and U.S. citizens voicing unease about the direction of the tournament.
It should be noted, however, that FIFA enforces a strict policy against canceling tickets that have already been sold. The reported figure may instead refer to cancellations of applications during the third phase of ticket sales.
FIFA calls emergency meeting
With cancellations on the rise, Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s top brass have reportedly called an emergency meeting this week to address the situation, summoning senior officials, member associations, and tournament organizers.
Although the governing body has not issued a formal statement, insiders told Royal News that the meeting will focus on easing fan concerns and addressing the decline in ticket applications.
Official reports, however, maintain that overall ticket sales remain stable and that cancellations represent only a small fraction of applications.
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