FIFA president Gianni Infantino said demand for tickets for the 2026 World Cup had reached unprecedented levels, with 500 million requests already for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“You heard it: there have been many discussions about ticket sales for the World Cup,” Infantino said at the FIFA congress on Thursday. «We had 500 million ticket requests – 500 million ticket requests. During the last two World Cups combined we had 50 million ticket requests. Here 500 million.»
Infantino said FIFA had already sold the vast majority of tickets released so far.
“We have sold 100 percent of the inventory we brought to market, which is more or less 90% of the global inventory to date,” he said. “And of course we always put tickets on the market.”
Ticket sales have proven to be a sensitive issue in the run-up to the tournament, with concerns raised about affordability and access for local fans.
“There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets,” Infantino added.
Football’s global governing body is expected to continue releasing batches of tickets in phases, a strategy designed to manage demand while maximizing revenue for what will be the most lucrative World Cup in history.
Published on May 1, 2026
