With less than four months until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FIFA is privately expressing growing concern about sluggish ticket sales across many matches and venues. While the organization publicly celebrated receiving over 500 million ticket requests during the random lottery phase (December 2025–January 2026), internal sources confirm that the actual conversion rate from requests to confirmed purchases has been significantly lower than anticipated—particularly for group-stage games not featuring major powerhouses or the host nations.

The main issue is pricing. After the primary sales window closed in January, remaining tickets on FIFA’s official resale platform have seen dramatic price surges: a Category 3 seat for the opening match at Estadio Azteca now exceeds $5,300, while final tickets at MetLife Stadium have reached as high as $143,000 for a single seat. This sharp inflation has triggered widespread backlash, leading to tens of thousands of cancellations, especially from European and Latin American fans who initially entered the lottery hoping for more affordable access.

According to leaked data and reports from multiple outlets, around 16,800 ticket requests originating from the United States have been canceled in recent weeks. Social media campaigns under hashtags like #BoycottWorldCup have gained significant traction, fueled by concerns over safety, immigration policies, and the overall high cost of attending in North America. This has created alarm within FIFA, which had feared the possibility of half-empty stadiums for some of the 104 matches in the expanded 48-team tournament.

The worry is especially pronounced in non-traditional host cities such as Atlanta, Seattle, and Toronto, where local demand is softer and international fans are opting out due to the elevated prices. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has continued to publicly defend the pricing strategy, insisting that “demand remains historic,” but behind closed doors the leadership has instructed teams to accelerate the “last-minute sales” phase starting in April and to explore further reductions in accessible categories.

To counteract the trend, FIFA has already lowered some tickets for loyal national team supporters to as little as $60 per match and introduced more affordable hospitality packages. However, industry analysts estimate that if the current pattern holds, average stadium occupancy could fall below 85%—well short of the 95–98% figures achieved in Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018.

The situation threatens not only the festive atmosphere of the first-ever three-nation World Cup but also a significant portion of FIFA’s projected revenue from ticketing, which forms a key part of the organization’s expected $11 billion+ budget for the event. With the group stage beginning in just over 110 days, FIFA has a narrow window to reignite interest and avoid the tournament being remembered for “half-empty stadiums.”

For now, the official messaging remains one of “overwhelming success,” but internal sources acknowledge that the upcoming sales phase will be make-or-break. Fans still hoping for reasonable prices will have their final realistic opportunity starting in April through the first-come, first-served system. Time is running out for FIFA to turn things around for what was supposed to be the biggest World Cup in history.