Over 500 million ticket requests submitted for FIFA World Cup 2026 in record-breaking demand

Fans around the world have shown extraordinary interest in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament, with more than 500 million requests submitted for tickets during the Random Selection Draw, which ran from December 11 to January 13.

The applications came from all corners of the globe, from countries under FIFA’s 211 Member Associations. Outside the host nations, the United States, Mexico and Canada, the largest number of requests came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.

The matches that drew the most attention were Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami (June 27), Mexico vs. Korea Republic in Guadalajara (June 18), the opening match in Mexico City (June 11) and the final in New York/New Jersey (July 19).

“With each application validated by unique credit card data, fans placed an average of 15 million ticket requests per day over the 33-day application window, setting a new benchmark for demand in the history of world sport,” said FIFA in a statement.

It is important to note that these requests do not mean tickets have been sold, as actual allocations will be confirmed after FIFA completes its review.

“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand; it’s a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank and congratulate football fans everywhere for this extraordinary response,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“Knowing how much this tournament means to people around the world, our only regret is that we cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums. That is why we are committed to creating multiple ways for fans to be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so that as many people as possible can share in what will be the biggest sporting event ever staged.”

FIFA will now check each application against the rules and household limits. Where demand exceeds the available tickets, a random selection process will decide who gets tickets, with fans being notified by email starting February 5.

Those who get only some of the tickets they requested will be informed, while others who are unsuccessful will have another chance to buy tickets during the Last-Minute Sales, which operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans should note that having a ticket does not guarantee entry to the host countries, and they must meet visa and other government requirements before travelling.

“Given the processing times involved, FIFA recommends submitting the visa application as early as possible,” the football body said.

Click here to read article