FIFA: Over 500 Million Fans Chase $60 World Cup Tickets

FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the organisation said as the Random Selection Draw ticket application period ended on January 13.

This unprecedented demand highlights the massive global interest in next summer’s tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The application window ran from December 11 to January 13 and attracted requests from fans in all 211 FIFA member nations and territories. On average, supporters placed around 15 million ticket requests per day during the 33-day period, setting a new record in world sporting history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the figure as more than just demand: “Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand, it’s a global statement,” underlining how eagerly fans want to attend the first World Cup featuring 48 teams.

Outside the three host nations, the highest number of requests came from fans based in Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

The most sought-after match was the group-stage fixture Colombia vs. Portugal on June 27 in Miami, followed by Mexico vs. South Korea in Guadalajara, and the World Cup Final on July 19 in New Jersey.

Fans will be notified of the outcome of their ticket applications no earlier than February 5, and oversubscribed matches will be allocated by random selection to ensure fairness. Unsuccessful applicants will have another chance to buy tickets during later sales phases closer to the tournament.

The record-breaking interest comes amid backlash over high ticket prices, which prompted FIFA to introduce a cut-price $60 ticket category for fans of participating teams.