The 2026 World Cup has just begun, and in addition to the football competitions, it has attracted the attention of the media and public opinion, including the discussion of high ticket prices, empty seats in some stadiums, enthusiastic celebrations of fans in host cities and transportation problems; a tournament that has shown from the very beginning that it is more than a sporting event.
Publish dateSaturday 13 June 2026 - 15:27
Story Code : 357671
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The 2026 World Cup in its early stages has been accompanied by a series of controversial fringes and events that, along with the football competitions, have occupied an important part of the media's attention.
In the opening match, Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. Then South Korea beat the Czech Republic in a brilliant performance, Canada and Bosnia drew, and the United States got off to a strong start with a 4-1 win over Paraguay.
However, the most important issue of the World Cup these days is the issue of ticket prices and fan access to stadiums. Reports from the host countries and even Europe indicate that many spectators are protesting the unprecedented price increases; with some tickets costing several hundred dollars and special packages costing several thousand dollars.
This issue has even prompted a reaction from some political officials. In this regard, the President of Mexico has cited the high cost of tickets as the reason for his absence from the opening match, emphasizing that a large part of the population cannot afford such tickets.
At the same time, there have been reports of empty seats at some matches. Parts of the stadium appeared empty during the South Korea-Czech Republic match, sparking widespread debate on social media. FIFA, however, said that attendance was close to capacity.
In addition to the fringe events, host cities are hosting huge fan festivals. In the United States, Canada and Mexico, thousands of fans from different countries gathered in public spaces to watch matches on large screens. At some events, fans from more than 150 countries were reported to be present, reflecting the global dimension of the tournament.
However, there have also been problems with fan transportation. In some cities, including New Jersey, there have been reports of confusion and crowds of fans trying to get to stadiums, raising concerns about traffic management and infrastructure.
The 2026 World Cup is underway while the big stars have not yet fully entered the competition, and it is expected that with the start of more sensitive matches, the level of excitement and global attention to this tournament will increase even more than before.
In the opening match, Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. Then South Korea beat the Czech Republic in a brilliant performance, Canada and Bosnia drew, and the United States got off to a strong start with a 4-1 win over Paraguay.
However, the most important issue of the World Cup these days is the issue of ticket prices and fan access to stadiums. Reports from the host countries and even Europe indicate that many spectators are protesting the unprecedented price increases; with some tickets costing several hundred dollars and special packages costing several thousand dollars.
This issue has even prompted a reaction from some political officials. In this regard, the President of Mexico has cited the high cost of tickets as the reason for his absence from the opening match, emphasizing that a large part of the population cannot afford such tickets.
At the same time, there have been reports of empty seats at some matches. Parts of the stadium appeared empty during the South Korea-Czech Republic match, sparking widespread debate on social media. FIFA, however, said that attendance was close to capacity.
In addition to the fringe events, host cities are hosting huge fan festivals. In the United States, Canada and Mexico, thousands of fans from different countries gathered in public spaces to watch matches on large screens. At some events, fans from more than 150 countries were reported to be present, reflecting the global dimension of the tournament.
However, there have also been problems with fan transportation. In some cities, including New Jersey, there have been reports of confusion and crowds of fans trying to get to stadiums, raising concerns about traffic management and infrastructure.
The 2026 World Cup is underway while the big stars have not yet fully entered the competition, and it is expected that with the start of more sensitive matches, the level of excitement and global attention to this tournament will increase even more than before.
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