2026 World Cup Faces Ticket Sales Challenges and Human Rights Issues

The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico faces significant challenges, including slow ticket sales and human rights concerns.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, is facing significant challenges ahead of the tournament. With approximately 180,000 tickets still available through official resale portals, the event is grappling with slow sales and high ticket prices.

Meanwhile, human rights concerns in the host countries, particularly the USA, are raising questions about the inclusivity and safety of the event.

The high cost of tickets is a major factor in the slow sales. Regular seats for the USA’s opener are priced up to $2,735, surpassing the cost of a seat at the 2026 world Cup final.

Despite being co-hosts, the USA’s games have experienced the slowest ticket sales, with thousands of tickets still available for the opening matches. Some scalpers are even discounting tickets by 20 percent, indicating a lack of demand at the current prices.

The Human Rights Landscape

The World Cup is often celebrated for its ability to bring people together, but the 2026 edition is shadowed by troubling human rights issues in the host countries. Fans attending the tournament risk encountering discriminatory policies and aggressive immigration enforcement, particularly in the USA. The Trump administration’s visa restrictions and militarized immigration policies are expected to discourage many potential visitors.

Duncan Tucker, a UK-based fan working for Amnesty International, expressed his concerns about the safety and inclusivity of the event. He highlighted the contrast between Mexico’s welcoming atmosphere and the USA’s restrictive policies. Tucker emphasized that the World Cup should be rooted in community, inclusion, and passionbut FIFA’s exorbitant ticket prices and the host countries’ human rights records are undermining these values.

Canada’s Perspective

Mary Kapron, a Canadian fan and Amnesty International worker, shared her thoughts on the privilege of attending the World Cup and the concerns surrounding immigration policies. She noted that the Trump administration’s travel ban affects nationals from several participating countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal, preventing them from attending matches in the USA. Kapron also expressed worries about immigration enforcement around stadiums and public watch parties, which could deter communities living in fear from participating in the festivities.

Mexico’s Mixed Feelings

Guillermo Rodríguez García, a Mexican fan, expressed mixed feelings about the World Cup. While he is excited about the tournament being hosted in Mexico for the third time, he is concerned about the elitist nature of the event. The high ticket prices and hyperconsumption associated with the World Cup are seen as exclusionary, particularly in a country with extreme economic inequality. García also criticized FIFA’s indifference to human rights violations, both within the host countries and globally.

The Call for Change

The fans and activists interviewed all called on FIFA to prioritize human rights and the well-being of fans over commercial interests. They emphasized the need for the World Cup to return to its working-class roots and ensure that the event is accessible and safe for all attendees. García, in particular, urged FIFA to advocate for conditions that respect the human rights of visitors and host communities.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the challenges of slow ticket sales and human rights concerns loom large. The tournament’s success will depend on FIFA’s ability to address these issues and ensure that the World Cup lives up to its promise of uniting people from around the world.