Lack of World Cup segregation a risk - fans' chief

The lack of World Cup segregation at games has emerged as a notable risk, according to Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe, who spoke in Dallas ahead of England’s match with Croatia. He noted that crowds across group-stage games have seen fans from opposing nations mingling, a situation he calls abnormal for a tournament of this scale, and he criticized FIFA’s ticketing and resale practices for obscuring ticket ownership. Evain cited 8% ring-fenced allocations for Participating Member Associations and reported flags restrictions at some venues, including Dallas Stadium ahead of England’s opener. He stressed the inconsistent rules across venues, with staff sometimes improvising guidance and a lack of clear policy on symbols.