A Fifa recorded a historic milestone by accounting for more than 500 million requests for tickets for the 2026 World Cupwhich will be played in June and July in United States, Mexico and Canada. The numbers were released by the entity itself and represent the largest volume of requests ever recorded for a sporting event. Throughout the 33 days of the lottery sales phase, which began on December 11, 2025 and ended on January 13, 2026, the daily average was 15 million orders.
Demand came from fans from all countries and territories represented by FIFA’s 211 member associations, which reinforces the global appeal of the first 48-team World Cup. Among the countries that are not hosting the tournament, Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia were the ones that registered the most requests.
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The most sought after matches help explain the phenomenon. The most requested game was Colombia x Portugal, scheduled for June 27, in Miami. Next comes Mexico x South Korea, in Guadalajara, on June 18; the final, which will be played in New York New Jersey, on July 19; the opening, between Mexico and South Africa, on June 11, in Mexico City; and the round of 16 duel in Toronto, on July 2nd. The list highlights the interest in both high-profile clashes and knockout games distributed across the three host countries.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand. It is a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I thank and congratulate fans around the world for this extraordinary response”, said the entity’s president, Gianni Infantino.
He reinforced that, although not everyone can get a seat in the stadiums, FIFA is preparing multiple forms of participation to expand the fans’ experience inside and outside the arenas.
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With the deadline for requests closed, FIFA is now beginning to verify requests, checking limits per household and general requirements before the allocation process. When demand exceeds the number of tickets available, distribution will be carried out by draw.
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Communications about successful orders will be sent by email starting February 5th, and charges will be made automatically. Those who are not included will have another chance in the Last Minute phase, which will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis until the end of the tournament.
The entity also maintains an official ticket resale and exchange market and offers hospitality packages and travel options through partners. Furthermore, it reinforces that purchasing a ticket does not guarantee entry to the host countries and recommends that fans start visa processes in advance.
As a non-profit organization, FIFA says that more than 90% of the budget for the 2023 to 2026 cycle will be reinvested in the development of men’s, women’s and grassroots football around the world.
