Millions of soccer fans from around the world have the opportunity to buy tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in North America, as lottery winners from 4.5 million applicants were granted access starting Wednesday. FIFA said lottery winners were or will be informed of their status via email. The governing body expects demand will be high.
High demand
Though more than half of the spots in the 48-team World Cup are not yet finalized, 4.5 million applications is a strong indicator in interest for the event, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
“These are not only outstanding figures, but also a strong statement,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino posted on social media. “The whole world wants to be part of the FIFA World Cup 26, the biggest, most inclusive and most exciting event ever. From Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to countries big and small across every continent, fans are proving once again passion for football truly unites.”
There are still concerns, especially for foreign travelers, ranging from visas to concerns to immigration policies in the U.S.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBreaking down the sales
Tickets are divided into four categories, with Category 1 offering the most premium seats and Category 4 generally located higher up in the stadium. Prices start at $60 for group-stage matches and climb as high as $6,730 for the final.
Those figures are only the baseline, though, as this will be the first World Cup to implement dynamic pricing – meaning costs are likely to fluctuate.
Concerns remain
U.S. immigration policies have raised questions for international fans. Tourism officials have already reported a decline in overseas visitors this year. President Donald Trump, who has worked closely with Infantino, added to the uncertainty by suggesting that host locations could be shifted if his administration views them as unsafe.
The U.S. host cities include East Rutherford in New Jersey, Inglewood and Santa Clara in California, Foxborough in Massachusetts, Houston and Arlington in Texas, Atlanta in Georgia, Seattle in Washington, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Kansas City in Missouri and Miami in Florida.
"If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics, but for the World Cup in particular, because they're playing in so many cities, we won't allow it to go. We'll move it around a little bit," Trump said.
The State Department has stressed that protecting the country – along with World Cup matches, players, fans, and venues – is its top priority in the run-up to the tournament. Officials are also urging international travelers who require visas to begin the application process as soon as possible.
GettySecond phase starts soon
Ticket sales will enter a second phase, which FIFA is calling an early ticket draw. That will likely run between Oct. 27-31. There will be a third phase – a random selection draw – which will kick off following the World Cup draw on Dec. 5.
Tickets will continue to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis closer to the tournament. FIFA also said it will be launching an official resale marketplace platform.
