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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11 with the opening clash between Mexico and South Africa at the historic Azteca Stadium. Over 80,000 spectators are expected to fill the stands for this much-anticipated match in Mexico City. However, the grand occasion is being clouded by a major dispute involving 14,000 seats. The owners of these seats claim their long-standing access rights are being violated and have now formally warned FIFA of impending legal proceedings, potentially including the enforcement of court orders.

The origins of this conflict stretch back several decades. When the Azteca Stadium was being constructed in the 1960s, financial constraints forced developers to sell several private boxes and grandstand seats to individual buyers. These individuals — referred to as “Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” — were granted contractual rights to attend all events at the stadium free of charge until the year 2065.

This arrangement posed no issue during the 1970 World Cup. However, tensions emerged ahead of the 1986 edition, when FIFA first tried to include those seats in its ticket sales. That attempt was eventually abandoned, allowing the rights holders to retain free entry to all World Cup matches, including the final showdown between Germany and Argentina.

The controversy has resurfaced in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. FIFA, in coordination with stadium operator Ollamani, reportedly sought to incorporate the 14,000 disputed seats into its ticketing system. In response, the affected owners established the “Asociacion Mexicana de Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” (AMTPP) and filed a lawsuit. The court sided with the ticket holders, ruling in their favour.

The decision carries significant financial implications for Ollamani. Because the seats had already been promised to FIFA, media reports in Mexico suggest that the company could now face compensation costs of approximately €54 million.

Following the court’s ruling, tensions escalated further. According to reports, FIFA and the stadium administration attempted to make the reserved seats less appealing during the World Cup. One proposal allegedly involved prohibiting seat owners from bringing personal food and drinks — a privilege normally permitted at the Azteca Stadium. Instead, they were to be offered hospitality packages priced between €6,116 and €13,010. There were also suggestions to revoke the World Cup entry rights of any owner who resold their seat. However, these proposed restrictions were struck down by the Mexican courts as well.

As the opening match draws near, the situation remains unresolved. Many members of the “Titulares de Palcos y Plateas” claim they have yet to receive their digital tickets, which were promised by the previous Friday. Ruano Ortega, the secretary-general of the AMTPP, expressed the seriousness of the issue from the owners’ perspective, stating: “If we are denied entry, we will file a complaint and request the court to authorize the use of enforcement measures.”