FIFA just announced OVER 500 MILLION ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup

FIFA has confirmed that ticket demand for the 2026 World Cup has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 500 million requests submitted during the latest sales phase. The figure represents the highest number of ticket requests in the history of the tournament, underlining the global scale of interest in the expanded edition to be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Record-breaking demand

According to FIFA, over 500 million ticket requests were made during a 33-day application window running from 11 December 2025 to 13 January 2026 under the Random Selection Draw system. That equates to roughly 15 million requests per day, highlighting the intensity of demand more than a year before the opening match.
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The 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, with matches spread across 16 host cities in the three co-hosting nations. FIFA officials have described the half‑billion request milestone as evidence that this edition is on course to be the biggest World Cup ever staged.
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Global interest and hot tickets

FIFA reported that applications were filed from fans in all 211 member associations, reflecting truly global interest in the event. While the United States, Mexico and Canada led the way, significant volumes of requests also came from countries such as Germany, Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Colombia.
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One of the standout fixtures in terms of demand is a group-stage clash between Colombia and Portugal scheduled for Miami on 27 June 2026, which has emerged as the single most requested match of the phase. Games involving the host nations, particularly Mexico’s matches in Mexico City and high-profile encounters in major U.S. venues, also rank among the most sought-after.
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Ticketing process and next steps for fans

The current sales phase operates as a Random Selection Draw, meaning that for any match where demand exceeds the available allocation, tickets will be assigned by lottery rather than on a first‑come, first‑served basis. FIFA has stated that fans who applied during this window will be informed of the outcome of their requests by email no earlier than 5 February 2026.
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Supporters who are unsuccessful in this round will still have other opportunities to secure seats, with additional sales phases and a later last‑minute, first‑come‑first‑served period planned in the build‑up to the tournament. An official resale or exchange platform is also expected to operate, aimed at limiting the impact of touts and secondary markets.
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Pricing concerns and “loyal fan” category

The extraordinary demand comes despite criticism from some supporters’ groups and fan organizations over the pricing structure for 2026 World Cup tickets. Concerns have focused on the cost of certain categories, which many argue place a strain on ordinary fans hoping to attend multiple matches.
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In response, FIFA has introduced a new “Supporter Entry Tier” aimed at so‑called loyal fans, covering all 48 participating teams and all matches across the three host nations. This lower‑priced category is presented as an attempt to balance affordability with the commercial reality of a tournament that has attracted record global interest and a historic volume of ticket requests.
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