Various media outlets point to the possibility that thousands of fans are canceling their tickets to attend matches in the United States, following calls for a boycott on social media over the policies pursued by Donald Trump.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is scheduled to begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19, featuring 104 matches, 78 of which will be played on U.S. soil.
In late December, media reports indicated that FIFA had received 150 million ticket requests. The organization estimates that actual sales could reach between 6 and 7 million tickets.
However, the domestic political climate and the international tensions surrounding the United States have reportedly generated concern among fans, fueling calls to boycott the tournament.
FIFA denies boycott
A recent report by Roya News, Jordan’s largest private media company, revealed that approximately 16,800 people canceled their tickets over the weekend, with many of the cancellations occurring within a 24-hour period.
According to the outlet, fans cited security concerns, political protests, and human rights issues in the United States under the Donald Trump administration as reasons for withdrawing.
Posts using the hashtag #BoycottWorldCup have circulated widely on social media, with fans and U.S. citizens expressing their unease about the direction of the tournament.
It should be noted, however, that FIFA enforces a strict policy against the cancellation of tickets that have already been sold. The reported figure may instead refer to the cancellation of ticket applications during the third phase of ticket sales.
In response to the increase in cancellations, Gianni Infantino and senior FIFA officials reportedly convened an emergency meeting this week to address the situation, bringing together top officials, member associations, and tournament organizers. According to Roya News, the meeting would focus on easing fans’ concerns and addressing the decline in ticket requests.
However, official FIFA statements deny the existence of a mass boycott, maintaining that overall ticket sales remain stable and that cancellations represent only a small fraction of total applications.