FIFA has announced that it received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during its month-long application period for the Random Selection Draw. This figure illustrates an extraordinary global interest in the first-ever 48-team tournament, which will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The application window lasted from December 11 to January 13, following the announcement of the World Cup draw and schedule.
Most In-Demand Matches
Ticket applications flooded in from fans in all 211 member associations. Among the countries with the highest application rates were host nations the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, along with Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia. The most requested match is set to be Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami on June 27. Other highly anticipated fixtures include Mexico vs. Korea Republic in Guadalajara and the tournament’s opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.
High Demand Amid Criticism
Demand remains noteworthy even considering FIFA sold about two million tickets in presales prior to the full schedule’s release. It is estimated that FIFA has four to five million tickets left for the entire 104-match tournament. Given the range of requests—which vary from one to four tickets each—it is likely that the total requests reflect an interest exceeding one billion individual tickets.
While FIFA cites this as confirmation of its pricing strategy, ticket prices have sparked criticism from fans, particularly within North America. The costs are significantly higher than those of prior tournaments, causing some supporters to shy away and others to turn to secondary markets. Platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats are currently showing many matches listed well over their face value.
Ticket Validation and Future Opportunities
FIFA has stated that it performed validation checks during the ticket request phase. Each application was linked to unique credit card details and submitted under household restrictions. Notifications will be sent out starting no earlier than February 5, categorizing applications as successful, partially successful, or unsuccessful. For those who miss out, there will be another chance during the last-minute sales phase closer to the tournament.
Next Steps
The 2026 World Cup is set to begin on June 11 in Mexico City, concluding on July 19 in New Jersey, being the largest tournament in FIFA’s history and poised to be a highly sought-after event.
