FIFA have confirmed they received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during the month-long Random Selection Draw application window, underlining unprecedented global demand for the first-ever 48-team tournament.
The application phase ran from December 11 through January 13, following December’s official World Cup draw and the release of the full match schedule across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
According to FIFA, applications were submitted by fans living in all 211 member associations, highlighting the truly global appetite for the expanded tournament. Host nations the United States, Mexico and Canada were among the countries with the highest number of applicants, alongside football powerhouses Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.
The most requested fixture during this phase was Colombia vs Portugal, scheduled to take place in Miami on June 27. Other highly sought-after matches included Mexico vs Korea Republic in Guadalajara, the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, and a Round of 32 match in Toronto on July 2 that is expected to feature either Portugal or Colombia.
The scale of demand is remarkable even by World Cup standards. FIFA has already sold approximately two million tickets through presales that took place before the full schedule was announced. It is believed that around four to five million tickets remain available across the 104-match tournament.
Each application during the random draw covered between one and four tickets, meaning the 500-million-plus requests likely translate into interest for well over one billion individual tickets. FIFA has presented the figures as evidence of extraordinary global enthusiasm for the 2026 event.
However, the surge in demand has also reignited criticism over ticket pricing, particularly from supporters in North America. Prices across all stages of the tournament are significantly higher than those seen at previous World Cups, leading to concerns that many fans could be priced out.
[The Athletic reports] that resale platforms such as StubHub and Vivid Seats are already listing many matches at prices well above face value. While prices could fluctuate as the tournament approaches especially for less prestigious group-stage fixtures — the secondary market has become an increasingly prominent option for supporters.
FIFA has stressed that validation checks were carried out throughout the application process. Each request was linked to unique credit card details and subject to household limits in an effort to curb fraud and bulk purchasing.
Fans will begin receiving notification emails no earlier than February 5, with applications classified as successful, partially successful or unsuccessful. Supporters who miss out during this phase will have another opportunity when FIFA opens its last-minute sales window closer to the tournament, with tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
FIFA has reiterated that its official ticketing platform and resale marketplace are the only authorised channels for purchasing tickets.
The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11 in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 in New Jersey, marking the largest tournament in FIFA history and, if early indicators are any guide, the most in-demand sporting event ever staged.