Reports say a number of England supporters without tickets entered AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ahead of or during the World Cup opener against Croatia. Accounts described fans evading security checks despite a major security operation around the venue. Some reports mention gaps at the sides of ticket barriers and that the stadium environment included extensive policing and other resources. Several outlets cite fans’ accounts and claim that supporters were able to get inside without ticket verification.
FIFA plays down the reports. In its response, FIFA indicates it does not support the most severe versions of events and frames the situation as being overstated in media accounts. The reports also note that law enforcement and venue security planning were in place, including highly trained personnel and specialised resources deployed by local police.
Overall, sources agree that there were claims of ticketless entry, but they differ on the scale and details. FIFA’s response contests the implication that large numbers of people without tickets gained access through a widespread security failure.
