FIFA said Friday that it had received 5 million ticket requests in the first 24 hours of the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, despite widespread backlash from supporter groups to the prices being charged.

Ticket prices released this week by FIFA were, on average, 174 per cent higher than in the original North American bid book.

Social media users noted that the move to drop charges came shortly after President Donald Trump received a FIFA peace award.

This article originally published at $2.5M upgrades set for Dallas Cowboys arena ahead of FIFA World Cup.

Human rights activist group FairSquare have made an official complaint to FIFA, alleging that president Gianni Infantino broke his own organization’s pledge for political neutrality with comments about U.S. president Donald Trump.

Infantino's perceived closeness to President Donald Trump and the process used to introduce the new award have come under scrutiny.

As the U.S. prepared for the 2026 World Cup, rumors abounded about the rapport between the president and the international soccer organization.

The 2026 Women’s Champions Cup marks FIFA’s first worldwide women’s club championship, bringing together top clubs from each confederation in a multi-round competition that began earlier this fall. The winner in London will be crowned the world champion of women’s club football.