Khaberni - The International Football Association (FIFA) faces a growing wave of criticism from football fans over accusations of providing misleading information about seat locations on World Cup 2026 tickets.
According to media reports, many fans expressed their dissatisfaction after discovering that the seats they received did not match the expectations set by the guide maps during the purchasing process, especially for the most expensive Category 1 tickets.
FIFA relies on a category system for ticket sales, where stadiums are divided into price levels without specifying an exact seat at the time of purchase, which differs from many other tournaments, especially in the United States.
According to circulating complaints, some holders of Category 1 tickets were surprised to find seats in the corners of the stadium or behind the goal, and even in sections close to Category 2, despite the high prices they paid.
Fans also noted that the boundaries of the categories changed more than once during the sales phases, which increased the ambiguity and inconsistency in seat distribution.
In contrast, FIFA confirmed that the published maps were only guidance tools intended to provide a general idea of potential locations, and were not a precise guarantee of seating location.
In an official statement, it was clarified that these maps reflect "the general range of each category," noting that they underwent updates after allocating special zones for team supporters, which led to some changes in the boundaries between categories.
The statement also highlighted that the current phase of ticket sales allows fans to directly choose specific seats, in an attempt to enhance transparency and avoid previous issues.
Despite the official clarifications, doubts still linger among the fans, especially with increasing talk about allocating the best seats to hospitality and VIP categories.
Reports indicate that prices for official hospitality packages could reach more than $70,000, leading some to believe that premium sideline seats were not genuinely available to regular ticket holders, even those in Category 1.
This crisis comes at a sensitive time, as ticket sales have crossed the three million mark, amid ongoing debate over high prices, which reached about $10,990 for the final match.
Other criticisms related to the drawing system and ticket availability have also arisen, putting FIFA under increased pressure to ensure fairness and clarity in one of the biggest editions of the World Cup in history.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 in America, Canada, and Mexico, with the opening match to be held at the "Azteca" stadium in Mexico, where the Mexican national team will meet South Africa.
It is noted that the Argentina national team is the holder of the title of the last edition of the World Cup, which was held in Qatar in 2022.
