Reports Emerge of World Cup Ticket Cancellations Amid Cost and Travel Concerns

In the years leading up to 2026, FIFA has faced significant criticism over the high cost of tickets for the World Cup finals, which will be hosted across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. After the line-ups and qualifications were completed, attention shifted to deciding which host country fans should travel to to watch the matches.

In light of this, many football fans found themselves in a dilemma over which country to choose, owing to the earlier travel ban issued by the U.S. Department of State. This significantly increased waiting times for visa approvals, with data from the U.S. Department of State revealing that some African countries, such as Nigeria, have visa wait periods of up to fourteen months.

This situation created major difficulties for African and other foreign football fans, especially because travel expenses and tickets are often non-refundable, meaning any delay could result in substantial financial loss.

Another factor contributing to the spread of these rumours is concern over the racial profiling of Africans, particularly given that fans from different countries would be seated together during matches.

In response to these online concerns, FIFA has introduced a much cheaper ticket option for “loyal fans,” priced at $60, in stark contrast to the initially reported £5,000 tickets. FIFA is also working with U.S. authorities to prioritise visa processing for fans who already hold tickets.

At the same time, FIFA has stated that there is no official data confirming mass ticket cancellations for matches hosted in the United States, and it maintains that overall ticket demand remains strong.

Meanwhile, businesses in the travel and tourism sector continue to actively advertise World Cup travel packages to Canada and Mexico, reporting greater hesitation from long-haul markets, particularly Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America.