The FIFA World Cup 2026 has broken records with more than 150 million ticket requests submitted during the first half of its Random Selection Draw phase. Fans from over 200 countries have shown unprecedented demand, oversubscribing the tournament by 30 times. This surge highlights the global excitement for the expanded 48-team event across North America.
The Random Selection Draw for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets, which opened on December 11, 2025, has already surpassed all previous benchmarks. By December 29, FIFA announced that over 150 million requests had been received, marking the highest demand in the tournament's history. This figure represents 3.4 times the total number of spectators who attended the 964 matches across the 22 previous World Cups since 1930.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the response as a "true showcase of incredible demand from fans from over 200 countries." The phase, which runs until January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., uses a lottery system where the timing of submissions does not influence chances of success. All verified applications, based on individual credit card numbers, are entered equally into the draw.
Unsuccessful applicants will have further opportunities in subsequent sales phases. A new Supporter Entry Tier offers tickets at a fixed price of $60 for each of the 104 matches, including the final, making attendance more accessible. This tier will be distributed through FIFA's Participating Member Associations.
The 2026 tournament, the largest ever with 48 teams, will span June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The overwhelming interest is expected to drive significant tourism, with cities like Atlanta preparing for up to 300,000 visitors for its eight matches, including a semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
FIFA encourages fans to apply via FIFA.com/tickets, emphasizing the event's role as the "greatest and most inclusive show on the planet."
