World Cup 2026: Ticket issues heating up for the French team

According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Paris, FFF President Philippe Diallo visited the Clairefontaine headquarters on June 3 to meet with the players and coaching staff of the French team. The discussions focused on the bonus system for the 2026 World Cup as well as the number of tickets for family members and relatives of team members.

French media revealed that the talks about bonuses were relatively smooth. Adjustments to the reward levels due to increased tournament organization costs did not face significant opposition from the players. It is expected that bonuses will only be activated if the team advances deep into the semifinals, thereby allowing for higher reward amounts. The two sides are said to be nearing an agreement on this issue.

However, the matter concerning tickets for matches showed greater divergence. Under the FFF's current proposal, each player would receive two free tickets per match and have the right to purchase six additional tickets. Thus, each player could have up to eight tickets for their relatives.

Many players believe this number does not meet actual demand, especially since the 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, making travel and transportation costs for players' families even more expensive. Negotiations between the two sides are expected to continue in the coming days, and a final plan has yet to be finalized.

According to the schedule, the French team will play two friendly matches against Côte d'Ivoire on June 4 and Northern Ireland on June 8 before departing for the United States on June 10 for the 2026 World Cup. In the group stage, Didier Deschamps' squad is in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.