Just one month before the biggest FIFA World Cup in history kicks off across the USA, Mexico and Canada, excitement is being overshadowed by growing controversy over sky-high ticket prices, visa restrictions, accommodation costs and political tensions.

Several national teams are already intensifying preparations for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature 48 countries competing across multiple host cities in North America for the first-ever tournament jointly hosted by three nations.

However, despite the global excitement surrounding the expanded competition, concerns continue to mount over the rising cost of attending the tournament. Football fans and federations have criticised FIFA after ticket prices reportedly surged to unprecedented levels, with the most expensive ticket costing as much as $32,970 — a massive increase compared to the $1,600 top-priced ticket at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The backlash has forced FIFA President Gianni Infantino to defend the organisation amid accusations of excessive pricing and poor accessibility for ordinary supporters.

FIFA has nevertheless revealed that ticket demand remains extremely high, with more than 500 million requests already submitted — dwarfing the combined figures recorded for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Beyond ticket prices, fans have also expressed frustration over expensive accommodation, transport costs and strict visa policies expected to affect travel plans for many supporters.

Political tensions in the United States have further intensified concerns, especially following immigration crackdowns, protests and growing debates over press freedom ahead of the tournament.

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