Record-Breaking Demand Signals Unprecedented Interest In FIFA World Cup 2026

Demand for tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ has surged to unprecedented levels, with more than 150 million ticket requests submitted halfway through the ongoing Random Selection Draw phase, FIFA has confirmed.

The figure represents the highest demand in the tournament’s history, with fans from over 200 countries applying for seats at the expanded 48-team competition. Based on verified individual credit card submissions, FIFA said the tournament is already oversubscribed by more than 30 times.

The scale of interest underlines the global appeal of the 2026 edition, which will be staged across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Remarkably, FIFA noted that the number of ticket requests so far is 3.4 times greater than the total number of spectators who have attended all 964 matches across the previous 22 World Cups combined since the tournament began in 1930.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the response as historic. “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the greatest and most inclusive show on the planet, with more than 150 million tickets already requested in only the first 15 days, making this edition 30 times oversubscribed, a true showcase of incredible demand from fans from over 200 countries,” he said. “This overwhelming response from passionate fans is a true representation of how our game is loved globally, we are going to make history in North America when we bring the world together like never before in a celebration of unity and the best of football.”

The tournament will run from Thursday, 11 June 2026 to Sunday, 19 July 2026 and will feature a record 104 matches. The current Random Selection Draw ticketing phase, which opened on 11 December 2025, will close on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET). FIFA has reiterated that the timing of an application within this window does not affect a fan’s chances, with all valid entries treated equally once the draw takes place.

Fans who are unsuccessful in the draw will still have further opportunities to buy tickets in subsequent sales phases as additional inventory is released. Ticket prices will remain unchanged throughout the current phase.

In an effort to improve affordability, FIFA has introduced a dedicated Supporter Entry Tier, offering tickets at a fixed price of USD 60 for each of the 104 matches, including the final. Supporters of specific national teams may also apply for Participating Member Association (PMA) Supporter tickets, subject to eligibility criteria set by their respective associations.

For fans seeking premium experiences, hospitality packages are available through FIFA’s official provider, On Location, while all-inclusive travel packages, including match tickets, accommodation and flights, are also being offered via Qatar Airways.

FIFA reiterated that, as a not-for-profit organisation, it reinvests revenue generated from the World Cup back into the global game. The governing body expects to channel more than 90% of its budgeted investments for the 2023–2026 cycle into football development across its 211 member associations.

With months still to go before the tournament kicks off, the extraordinary level of interest has already positioned the FIFA World Cup 2026™ as one of the most anticipated sporting events in history.

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