Tens of thousands of tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain available for purchase only one day before the competition begins, as organizers continue to battle reports of slow sales and softer-than-expected demand for what was previewed as one of history’s biggest sporting events.

Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK. World Cup 2026 will span the United States, Canada and Mexico, with demand for tickets at record levels.

With the 2026 World Cup at the doorstep, FIFA is facing an unexpected problem: ticket sales. The governing body still has roughly 180,000 unsold seats across host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

FIFA faces an embarrassing situation as thousands of 2026 World Cup tickets remain available just days before the tournament begins

The World Cup's astronomical prices have meant there are still hundreds of thousands of tickets available, leaving FIFA in an embarrassing position with the tournament set to begin in just a few days

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with FIFA betting that the enduring appeal of the greatest footballing show on earth can rise above anger at soaring ticket prices, an uneasy political climate in Donald Trump's America and the shadow of conflict in the Middle East.

Millions of soccer fans from around 100 countries are expected to attend, though concerns ranging from public health and soaring ticket prices to travel restrictions and access for certain groups have cast a shadow over the event.

From unprecedented wars and rip-off ticket prices to Gianni Infantino selling football’s soul and Donald Trump’s determination to create a ‘Maga World Cup’, Miguel Delaney details how the 2026 tournam