01.06.2026 10:51
It has been claimed that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) will demand $15,000 from club presidents who wish to attend the 2026 World Cup, and $24,000 from those who wish to attend with their spouses. This decision, following the high hospitality costs at EURO 2024, is seen as the beginning of a new era in Turkish football.
The Turkish Football Federation has implemented a notable practice ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Following criticism over hospitality expenses during EURO 2024, the federation management will now charge fees to club presidents who wish to attend the tournament.
THE "FREE HOSPITALITY" ERA IS OVER
As preparations for the 2026 World Cup continue, a decision by the Turkish Football Federation regarding event planning has sparked debate. During Mehmet Büyükekşi's tenure, the high hospitality budgets and extensive guest lists at the EURO 2024 event were long discussed. It was reported that the administration under İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has decided to take a different approach on this matter.
OFFICIAL LETTER SENT TO CLUB PRESIDENTS
According to allegations, the TFF sent an official letter to clubs in professional leagues. The letter stated that club presidents wishing to participate in the World Cup event must pay a participation fee of $15,000. It was claimed that if presidents wanted to attend the event with their spouses, the fee was set at $24,000.
NOT VIP, BUT FIRST CATEGORY TICKETS
It was reported that match tickets were also planned in a notable way in the new practice. It was learned that tickets provided to club presidents would come from first-category stands, not VIP protocol sections. The federation is said to aim to keep organizational costs under control through this measure.
SEPARATE ALLOCATIONS FOR PLAYERS AND SPONSORS
It was stated that a total of 250 tickets were allocated for players and technical staff, to be used with their families, in the ticket planning. While approximately 250 tickets were reserved for sponsors, it was claimed that TFF Board members were granted three tickets per person.
NOTABLE MOVE BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The announcement of this decision just before the financial general assembly scheduled for June 7-8 in Ankara also drew attention. It remains a matter of curiosity how club presidents, accustomed to attending major events with the federation's budget for years, will react to this practice. The decision, expected to have a wide impact in Turkish football, is anticipated to be further debated in the coming days.