FIFA says 2026 World Cup ticket requests top 500 million

FIFA said it received more than 500 million ticket requests during the latest sales phase for the 2026 World Cup, highlighting strong global demand despite criticism from fans over high prices.

According to DPA, Germany accounted for the highest number of applications outside the three host countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — FIFA said late on Wednesday.

The sales window, which ran from Dec. 11 until Tuesday, was the first opportunity for fans to apply for individual tickets linked to specific group-stage matches and teams. Successful applicants in the random draw will be notified as early as Feb. 5.

Fans who do not secure tickets in this phase will be able to apply again during a second sales period, which will remain open until the end of the tournament.

“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand; it’s a global statement,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

During the sales period, FIFA introduced a new lower-priced ticket category aimed at loyal supporters following protests over ticket costs. The “Supporter Entry Tier” is available for all 48 teams and all matches played across the three host nations from June 11 to July 19.

FIFA said availability in the category is limited. Eight percent of tickets for each match are allocated to the participating teams’ national associations, with only 10% of that allocation offered under the new pricing tier.