The early stages of the World Cup have delivered packed stadiums and viral fan scenes, but concerns are growing over how supporters are being placed inside venues.
Fans from opposing countries have regularly appeared in the same sections during group games, a setup that feels different from the tighter separation usually seen at major international soccer tournaments.
The scenes may look harmless when crowds are calm, but supporter groups are warning that the same arrangement can become risky if tensions rise.
Much of that concern now centers on how tickets have moved through allocations, resale platforms and matchday entry systems.
Ronan Evain says FIFA ticket control has created World Cup segregation risk
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, said the lack of clear separation between rival supporters is unusual for a tournament of this size.
“The absence of segregation is not normal for a tournament like this,” Evain said. “What is worrying is that FIFA doesn’t really know who has tickets here and there, by pushing so much for people to buy tickets and re-sell them.”
He added, “So the possibility – or the risk – to have fans from ‘Team A’ in the middle of the crowd of ‘Team B’ is stronger than ever before.”
BBC Sport saw Dutch and Japanese supporters mixed together during their match in Dallas, and similar scenes have appeared across early group games.
That is not automatically dangerous, but it reduces one of the basic tools normally used to manage flashpoints in high-pressure crowds.
FIFA sources pointed to ring-fenced allocations for participating associations, with teams receiving 8% of tickets for matches they are involved in. Evain’s concern is that resale movement can still blur where those supporters finally end up.
Ronan Evain warns World Cup resale market leaves FIFA with little control
Evain said the problem becomes harder to manage once tickets have moved repeatedly beyond their original buyers.
“I don’t know if there are mitigation measures in place, but the risk does exist. Hopefully this kind of situation can be solved by just switching tickets and people moving from one section to another.
“But there is very little that FIFA can do at this stage because they don’t know who owns their tickets,” he continued.
“It’s an additional risk, and I don’t think it’s been taken into consideration. There’s so many tickets on the resale platforms – FIFA has zero control with what’s happening with these tickets.
“It’s hard to tell what will be the behaviour of the people that control these tickets,” Evain concluded.
The ticketing issue sits alongside broader fan complaints at the tournament. Supporters have also raised concerns about inconsistent flag rules, especially in Dallas, where some items were reportedly removed despite FIFA guidance allowing small approved flags and banners.
The danger is not that every mixed section will cause trouble. The worry is that FIFA may have fewer tools than usual if a volatile fixture places rival fans together and tensions spike before staff can move people safely.
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