"Local festivals will offer fans a chance to enjoy match screenings in a vibrant setting, with access to food, drinks and, at some venues, free musical performances in comparison to exorbitantly priced match tickets and inflated commuter fares to venues. In Toronto, the first batch of tickets to the official fan festival sold out within four hours."
Fans’ pre-World Cup 2026 focus centers on disappointment and shock rather than excitement. Criticism targets FIFA and local organizers in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, driven by expensive match tickets and logistical concerns. Political tensions also shape expectations after US-Israel attacks on Iran triggered a regional conflict. Questions have been raised about whether Iran can play in the US, but FIFA chief Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran’s Team Melli will participate, while Iranian officials asked hosts to address concerns. Ticket outrage led many local fans to official fan festivals in host cities. Unregulated resale and dynamic pricing pushed some final tickets to extremely high prices, while free festival entry proved popular, offering match screenings, food, drinks, and sometimes musical performances.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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