Nearly 17K Fans Cancel 2026 World Cup Tickets Amid Boycotts Over U.S. Political Climate

Tens of thousands of fans cancelled their tickets to the 2026 World Cup over the weekend amid safety fears, political protests, and human rights concerns in the U.S., leading FIFA to schedule an emergency meeting this week.

Per a report by Roya News, around 16,800 ticketholders cancelled their World Cup tickets overnight. The cancellations stem from boycotts shared across social media; fans overseas said they are backing out over safety concerns and discomfort with the U.S.’ political climate.

Given that FIFA has a strict no cancellation policy on sold tickets for the World Cup, it is likely that the figure is reflective of people cancelling their participation in the in the third phase of ticket sales for the event – either the “random draw” selection process, or purchase via member organizations.

Posts are circulating with the hashtag #BoycottWorldCup as fans share their distaste with the tournament’s direction. U.S. citizens and soccer fans across the world are calling on ticketholders to reconsider attending “until the Trump regime is gone.”

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Amid the reported cancellations, FIFA has reportedly scheduled an emergency meeting this week to discuss the situation including fan’s safety worries, declining ticket commitments, and reputational issues as the games grow closer. FIFA has not issued an official agenda, though it will bring together senior officials, member association representatives, and tournament organizers.

Ticket market update: sky-high pricing holds — and host games still carry a premium

According to data from Ticket Club, it doesn’t appear that demand has cracked – or at least for now, if it has, that’s not showing up in a meaningful way in asking prices. Overall, the resale marketplace reports that the average asking price across all 104 World Cup matches has edged down only slightly since late December — from $3,697 (12/30) to $3,631 (1/12), a dip of 1.8%. In other words: the market has stabilized, but it hasn’t “broken.”

| READ: FIFA President Defends Ticket Prices for World Cup, Claiming 150 Million Ticket Requests |

By round, TicketClub’s data shows group-stage tickets drifting modestly lower while later rounds remain volatile — likely a function of thinner inventory and a “wait-and-see” approach to what teams are playing before the market really shifts:

• Group Stage: $2,725 → $2,652 (-2.7%)
• Round of 32: $4,414 → $4,347 (-1.5%)
• Round of 16: $5,491 → $7,348 (+33.8%)
• Quarterfinals: $6,361 → $4,331 (-31.9%)
• Semifinals: $7,430 → $6,204 (-16.5%)
• Third-place match: $7,454 → $6,895 (-7.5%)
• Final: $22,513 → $21,680 (-3.7%)

That Final price point is consistent with the tournament’s marquee positioning: FIFA has confirmed the World Cup final is slated for Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium across the river from New York City in northern New Jersey.

The bigger question isn’t whether prices have softened over the last two weeks — they haven’t, much. It’s whether the mix of political uncertainty and consumer fatigue around pricing can change buyer behavior over the next several months. If international fans increasingly view the U.S. as risky or unwelcoming, it may not take a massive boycott to matter: even a modest reduction in inbound demand could leave sellers fighting over a smaller pool of high-end buyers, especially for premium-host-city inventory that’s currently priced as if global demand will be limitless.

FIFA World Cup ’26 Group Stage Games and Ticket Prices

Prices indicate the average asking price for a ticket on the Ticket Club resale marketplace. Prices reflect that marketplace membership discount. TicketNews readers can claim a free 1-year membership to TicketClub using the code TICKETNEWS at signup.

FIFA World Cup ’26 Knockout Stage Games and Ticket Prices