FIFA World Cup 2026: Fans’ Hottest Talking Points

For football fans, much of the wait for the 2026 World Cup has been marked not by excitement or joy, but by disappointment and surprise.

Faced with a host of issues – from exorbitant ticket prices to logistical organization – fans have strongly criticized FIFA and the organizers of the three host nations: Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Political tensions have also become a major topic following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will play, though Iranian officials have urged the hosts to address their concerns.

Here are the most talked-about hot topics among the fan community before the tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, featuring 104 matches.

Free festivals – a bright spot amid the ticket price storm

After months of fury over what many called “cutthroat” World Cup ticket prices, local fans have been flocking to book spots at official fan festivals in host cities. The black market and dynamic pricing in the US drove final ticket prices as high as $2 million each – sparking fierce criticism. In contrast, the decision to open fan festivals for free in several cities quickly became a focal point.

In Toronto, the first batch of tickets for the official fan fest sold out within four hours. A further 220,000 free tickets will be released next Friday. In New York, all five boroughs will host free fan zones as decided by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In neighboring New Jersey, some matches will be screened at Sports Illustrated Stadium for $10 a ticket. MetLife Stadium (renamed New York New Jersey Stadium) will host the final on July 19.

Atlanta, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Mexico City and Vancouver are also among cities offering free fan festivals. Los Angeles will charge $10 for admission to its fan fest at the LA Memorial Coliseum, though free “fan zones” will also be set up in residential communities.

Panini stickers – a final farewell to a legendary hobby

An almost “end-of-era” World Cup icon is the Panini sticker album – a decades-long passion for thousands of fans, with costs ranging from $1.50 to thousands of dollars for rare stickers.

With 48 participating teams – the largest World Cup in history – collectors need 980 unique stickers (including 68 “special” ones) to fill the 112-page album, released this Thursday. The collecting craze has migrated to WhatsApp groups, the “Got, Got, Need” hashtag on social media, and in-person meetups for swaps.

A viral video shows the child of Brazilian star Marquinho cheering with joy upon seeing Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal emerge from a Panini sticker pack.

$375 collector jerseys – Is FIFA milking fans?

Last week, FIFA launched limited-edition collector jerseys for each host city priced at $375 – disappointing fans. Each city (16 in total) has only 999 jerseys. Four designs released for Kansas City, Boston, Seattle and New York-New Jersey have yet to sell out. Many social media users criticized the garish color schemes, with one saying: “Pay me to wear it and I will.” Still, some view them as keepsakes.

Broadcasting rights crisis in India and China

Millions of football fans in the world’s two most populous countries may miss out on the World Cup due to a deadlock over broadcasting rights. In China – which FIFA says accounted for 49.8% of total global digital viewership during the 2022 World Cup – no official deal has been announced. FIFA has signed agreements with at least 175 countries and territories, but the absence of deals in India and China just one month before the tournament is unusual.

Some social media users expressed no concern, citing illegal streaming sites, or saying the match times in Asia (midnight) are enough reason not to watch.

Three opening ceremonies, three major artists

This year’s World Cup features three opening ceremonies, a first. Mexico City kicks off on June 11 with international artists Alejandro Fernandez, J Balvin and Tyla. Katy Perry will perform in the US, while Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé will lead the ceremony in Canada. Lisa (Blackpink) becomes the first K-pop female artist to perform at a World Cup, following Jung Kook from the 2022 edition. Shakira, who stormed the charts with Waka Waka, has released a new song “Dai Dai” for the 2026 tournament but has not been confirmed to perform at the opening ceremony.