The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has officially confirmed that ticket demand for the 2026 World Cup has reached an unprecedented level.
According to FIFA, the organization received more than 500 million ticket requests during the random ticket sales phase.
The figure released in January 2026 is the highest ever recorded in the history of the world's largest sporting event.
The ticket purchases came from football fans around the world, thus surpassing the number of applications from FIFA's own member associations.
However, allegations have emerged that the governing body is facing a major issue when more than 38,000 fans reportedly canceled ticket applications and hotel bookings.
The move is allegedly due to United States (US) immigration policies, ICE enforcement, visitor safety, difficulty in obtaining visas, political tensions, and high costs.
Several European media outlets have begun discussing the possibility of a tourism boycott, but these reports have been dismissed as mere rumors and not based on actual ticket booking data.
FIFA officials have officially denied claims of a mass fan withdrawal, insisting that no unusual cancellation pattern has been detected so far.
While some tourists may have changed their plans for personal reasons, there is no evidence of a drop in hotel bookings.
For now, global demand for 2026 World Cup tickets remains high, while the issue of mass cancellations remains an allegation unsupported by any solid evidence.
