Former head coach of the Russia national team Sergey Balahnin reacted to reports that fans are returning tickets en masse for matches of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States. The expert shared his views in an interview with «Euro-Football.Ru». This was reported by euro-football.ru reports .
Balahnin emphasized the complexity of the situation, noting that the issue may be linked to Venezuela and political factors, in particular Donald Trump’s policies. According to him, ticket returns may continue: many fans from South America, including Brazil, Chile and other countries, may cancel their trips. The expert added that this process could affect the tournament itself, and if FIFA is convening a council meeting, it would damage the reputation of the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier, the Sport Baza Telegram channel reported that fans had returned about 17,000 tickets intended for World Cup matches in the United States. According to the source, concerns about personal safety amid events related to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro were the reason.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The reigning champion is Argentina.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
