Zurich, January 15, 2026 – FIFA announced it received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup. The application period ran for 33 days from December 11, 2025, to January 13, 2026. This marks the highest ticket demand in World Cup history.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the numbers a global statement rather than just a demand. The tournament will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It became the first World Cup to feature 48 teams instead of the usual 32.
Applications came from all 211 FIFA member countries and territories. FIFA verified each request using unique credit card data to prevent duplicate entries. The organization counted an average of 15 million requests per day throughout the application window.
Top Countries Requesting Tickets
The three host nations led the ticket requests. United States, Mexico and Canada fans applied in massive numbers for home matches. Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia followed as the top requesting countries outside the host nations.
Indian fans also rushed to get tickets, but has India qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? is still a question that many fans ask. The global spread shows football’s reach extends far beyond traditional powerhouses.
Colombia versus Portugal on June 27 in Miami got the most requests among all matches. Mexico versus the Republic of Korea in Guadalajara on June 18 came second. The final in New York, New Jersey, on July 19 ranked third in demand.
What Happens Next
FIFA Ticketing will process all 500 million applications over the coming weeks. Credit cards linked to successful applications will get charged automatically. Fans who applied for multiple matches might get some but not all of their requests fulfilled.
Infantino admitted stadiums cannot hold everyone who wants to attend. FIFA plans to create fan experiences beyond the venues for those who miss out on tickets. The organization will offer both in-person and online engagement options throughout the tournament.
FIFA operates as a not-for-profit organization. Over 90 percent of its budget gets reinvested into football development. The money goes to men’s, women’s and youth programs across all 211 member associations during the 2023 to 2026 cycle.
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Fans who strike out in the random selection can try again during last minute sales. That phase runs on a first come first served basis right up until the tournament ends. FIFA keeps releasing returned tickets and additional seats throughout the competition.
The three host countries will stage 104 matches across 16 cities. Mexico City, New York, New Jersey, Miami, Guadalajara and Toronto already show up as popular venue choices based on early ticket data. More detailed breakdowns will emerge after FIFA completes the allocation process.
Ticket holders traveling to matches should plan their trips carefully. Fans from other countries need to think about getting visas, booking flights, and finding hotels in three different countries. The tournament lasts more than a month, so fans can go to more than one match if they can get tickets.
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