5 million World Cup ticket requests in a day
Five million requests for 2026 World Cup tickets have been made since the latest ticketing phase opened on Thursday, says Fifa - despite growing criticism over their cost.
Football's world governing body says fans from more than 200 countries have asked for tickets, with the group match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on 27 June the most sought after.
But the pricing structure for next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been criticised, with the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) calling it "scandalous".
Group-stage tickets are up to three times the prices of those for Qatar in 2022, while the cheapest ticket for the final will cost £3,119.
The Football Association will contact Fifa to relay fans' concerns after it was asked to lobby the world governing body to lower the price of tickets.
The FSA has joined Football Supporters Europe (FSE) in demanding the sales process is stopped so fans' groups can hold talks with Fifa over its pricing policy.
"We back Football Supporters Europe in calling for a halt in ticket sales and we are calling on the Football Association to work with fellow FAs to directly challenge these disgraceful prices," the FSA said in a statement.
"We call on all national associations to stand up for your supporters, without whom there would be no professional game."
Fifa has yet to comment on the criticism, while both the FA and the Scottish FA have yet to comment on the ticket prices.
BBC Sport has been told the FA is aware that England fans are angry, and is planning to pass on those concerns to Fifa.
There is a Fifa Council meeting in Doha next week, and FA chair Debbie Hewitt will be present. Last month she said she was opposed to dynamic ticket pricing, and has vowed it will not be used at Euro 2028, which the UK and Ireland is hosting.
With the Home Nations FAs hoping to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, they - and the UK government - may be wary of upsetting Fifa.
Privately, Fifa insiders say while tickets will seem expensive to many, the governing body has a duty to set prices with the US market in mind, grow the game around the world, and to use its revenues to develop men's, women's and youth football.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has also promised to achieve record revenues, and the most lucrative sports event in history will do no harm to his re-election hopes in 2027.
The huge increase in the price of tickets was revealed on Thursday when Fifa released allocation details for the official supporters' groups of each country.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, group stage fixtures all had set prices of £68.50, £164.50 or £219.
But for England v Croatia and Scotland v Brazil next year, tickets cost around £198, £373 or £523.
The cost ramps up considerably in the latter stages.
Quarter-finals for all teams are £507, £757 and £1,073, with the semi-finals £686, £1,819 and £2,363.
The cheapest tickets for the final are £3,119, seven times more expensive than in Qatar.
There are no concessions across any of its tickets for children or other groups.
Next year's World Cup, the first time 48 nations will be taking part, takes place from Thursday, 11 June to Sunday, 19 July, with the draw made last Friday.
While Colombia v Portugal has been the most popular match so far, Fifa says that is followed by Brazil v Morocco (New Jersey, 13 June), Mexico v South Korea (Guadalajara, 18 June), Ecuador v Germany (New Jersey, 25 June), and Scotland v Brazil (Miami, 24 June).
According to Fifa, the most requests for tickets have come from the three host nations, followed by Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France and Panama.
Source: BBC
