The Digest:
Football’s global appeal has surged to staggering new heights, with FIFA announcing it received more than half a billion ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, a demand that underscores the sport’s unifying power even as it faces growing scrutiny over accessibility and cost.
Key Points:
- FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- Applications came from all 211 FIFA member nations and territories.
- The most requested match is Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami on June 27.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the response a “global statement.”
- Critics have labeled ticket prices “extortionate,” citing costs nearly five times higher than in 2022.
- FIFA later introduced a lower-priced ticket category at $60 each.
- Successful applicants will be notified from February 5 onward.
Sources: Complete Sports
