With nearly a year to go before the next FIFA World Cup kicks off, excitement among football supporters is already gathering pace and the evidence of that enthusiasm emerged on Friday as FIFA revealed that 4.5 million people have applied for tickets in the opening phase of sales.

According to the governing body’s report, most of the applications for the first pre-sale draw came from the United States. 

The limited pre-sale window, available exclusively to Visa credit card holders, closed only a few hours before FIFA’s announcement.

Co-host nations Mexico and Canada also featured prominently among the countries generating the highest demand, though FIFA did not disclose a breakdown of applications by territory.

Applicants selected in the draw will be informed from 29 September and will have until 1 October to purchase tickets within the designated window.

Commenting on the figures, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “This is not only an extraordinary number but also a powerful message. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest, most inclusive and most thrilling tournament ever. From Canada, Mexico and the United States to every corner of the globe, fans are showing how football’s passion unites people as they look forward to watching matches in the three host nations.”

Tickets for all 104 fixtures have been placed on sale, but obtaining an allocation during a sales window does not guarantee availability. Supporters may buy up to four tickets per match and a maximum of 40 for the entire competition.

The second phase, known as the advance ticket draw, opens on 27 October, with purchasing running from mid-November to early December. A third stage, the random selection draw, will follow the final tournament draw on 5 December in Washington DC, when the full schedule is set. Later sales will take place on a “first come, first served” basis.

FIFA also confirmed the launch of an official resale platform on 2 October.

The 2026 World Cup will be staged across 16 cities in North America. Eight matches, including the final, are scheduled at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City.

Initial ticket prices range from USD 60 for group-stage matches to USD 6,730 for the final. For the first time, the tournament will feature dynamic pricing, meaning costs may fluctuate.

For comparison, tickets for the 1994 World Cup in the United States were priced between USD 25 and USD 475, while those for Qatar 2022 ranged from USD 69 to USD 1,607. 

FIFA’s Club World Cup earlier this year also used dynamic pricing, with tickets for the Chelsea v Fluminense semi-final at MetLife Stadium dropping from USD 473.90 to just USD 13.40.

Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Spain and Italy were among the ten countries with the highest number of pre-sale applicants. 

FIFA said that fans from 216 countries and territories submitted requests for tickets.

Source: Agencies