Tensions arose during a meeting between French national team players and French Football Federation (FFF) President Philippe Diallo on 2/6, according to L'Equipe. During the meeting, Diallo informed the players that each would receive two complimentary tickets per match for the upcoming World Cup, with the option to purchase up to 6 additional tickets, totaling 8 tickets per player.

Many players, however, deemed this allocation insufficient. They anticipate a much larger contingent of family and friends traveling to the United States to support them, especially for prominent players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Rayan Cherki. The 2026 World Cup's multi-host format across the United States, Canada, and Mexico also contributes to significantly higher travel and accommodation costs, increasing players' desire for greater support from the FFF.

Forward Kylian Mbappe speaks with coach Didier Deschamps during a training session with the French national team in Paderborn, Germany on 19/6/2024. Photo: AP

The discussion was reportedly unpleasant, with some players directly expressing their dissatisfaction with the FFF's proposal, arguing that the ticket allocation was too low compared to actual needs. This meeting coincided with the team's official photo session at the Clairefontaine training center, attended by President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Publicly, the team projected an image of unity and readiness for the global football showpiece. However, behind these symbolic photos lay tense negotiations over player entitlements.

This ticket dispute is not the only sensitive issue affecting relations between players and the FFF. In March, the FFF proposed adjustments to the 2026 World Cup bonus structure. The Federation sought to reduce or alter bonus payments, citing significantly higher operational costs for the North American World Cup campaign compared to previous tournaments. Some proposals included retaining a portion of prize money until the team advanced further into the competition, thereby increasing the overall bonus fund for strong performance. Despite this, negotiations over bonuses have progressed more smoothly, with the gap between player demands and FFF proposals reportedly narrowing, according to AS. The issue of tickets for family members remains the most contentious.

The FFF states that cost control is understandable. The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 48 national teams across an unprecedented geographical area. Participating teams must allocate substantial budgets for travel, logistics, and organizational efforts.

The French national team will be based at Bentley University in Massachusetts, primarily staying in Boston. Before traveling to the United States, coach Didier Deschamps' squad will play two home friendlies: against Ivory Coast on 4/6 and Northern Ireland on 8/6. The team is scheduled to fly to the US on 9/6 to finalize their preparations.

In the World Cup, France is in Group I, alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. They will open their campaign against Senegal in New Jersey on 16/6, followed by matches against Iraq in Philadelphia and Norway in Foxborough. Despite being in what many consider a challenging group, France remains among the favorites to win the tournament. Opta's supercomputer gives Deschamps' team a 13% chance of lifting the trophy, placing them second only to Spain. With an experienced squad and one of the deepest rosters in the competition, France is widely expected to make a deep run, consistent with their performance in recent World Cups.

Hoang An (via AS)