FIFA said on Tuesday it had received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during a 33-day application period that ended this week, describing it as a new milestone in world sporting history.
The tournament, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada for the first time and featuring 48 teams for the first time, attracted registrations from fans from all 211 FIFA member states and territories, the football governing body said in a statement.
Each request was validated by unique credit card information, with fans submitting an average of 15 million ticket requests per day.
In addition to the three host countries, the largest number of applications came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.
The most anticipated match was a group stage meeting between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand, it is a global statement,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Fans will be notified of their registration results by email no earlier than February 5. If demand exceeds supply, tickets will be allocated through a random selection process, FIFA added.
Failed registrations will be given another opportunity to purchase tickets closer to the tournament during a last-minute sales phase on a first-come, first-served basis.
FIFA also operates an official resale and exchange marketplace for eligible ticket holders, which aims to protect fans and is subject to federal and local regulations.
The tournament starts on June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City. The final is on July 19 in New Jersey.
(With input from Reuters)
Published on January 15, 2026
