🎟️ Ticket chaos before opener: 14,000 fans sue for stadium entry | OneFootball

On June 11, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off with the match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. More than 80,000 fans are expected for the opening game in Mexico City. However, the major event is being overshadowed by a long-running dispute over 14,000 seats. The owners of these tickets see their access rights under threat and have now warned FIFA of legal action, including the use of court-authorized enforcement measures.

The roots of the conflict go back several decades. During the construction of the Azteca Stadium in the 1960s, funding was at times in short supply. To ensure completion, numerous boxes and grandstand seats were sold to private individuals. These buyers — known as the “Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” — were contractually guaranteed the right to attend all events at the stadium until 2065 without paying any additional admission fees.

This special arrangement caused no problems at the 1970 World Cup. Disputes only arose before the 1986 tournament. At that time, FIFA tried for the first time to include the affected seats in the regular ticket sale. However, the plan failed, allowing the rights holders to continue enjoying free access to World Cup matches — including the final between Germany and Argentina.

The dispute flared up again ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Together with stadium operator Ollamani, FIFA planned to include the 14,000 seats in its own marketing inventory. The affected owners responded by founding the “Asociacion Mexicana de Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” (AMTPP) and taking the matter to court. There, they won their case.

The ruling appears to have major financial consequences for Ollamani. Since the seats had already been promised to FIFA, Mexican media report that the company may now have to pay around €54 million in compensation.

After the court defeat, the conflict escalated further. According to reports, FIFA and the stadium operator then tried to make the use of the affected seats less attractive during the World Cup. One proposal was reportedly to ban holders from bringing their own food and drinks — even though this is generally allowed at the Azteca Stadium. Instead, paid hospitality packages were to be offered, with prices ranging from €6,116 to €13,010. In addition, there were reportedly plans to revoke all World Cup access rights from ticket holders if they resold their seats. But these measures were also struck down by Mexican courts.

A few days before the opening match, the situation remains tense. According to their own statements, many members of the “Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” are still waiting for their digital tickets, even though they were supposed to be provided by Friday. The AMTPP’s secretary-general, Ruano Ortega, made clear how serious the situation is from the affected parties’ perspective: “If they deny us entry, we will file a complaint and ask the court to authorize the use of force.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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