FIFA announces more than 1 million tickets sold for the 2026 World Cup; Luka Doncic announced as ambassador

More than 1 million tickets have already been sold for next year’s World Cup, FIFA said on Thursday in its first update on the figures since the official start of sales earlier this month.

The biggest demand, as expected, came from buyers from the US, Canada and Mexico – the three countries that will host the tournament. FIFA said people from 212 different countries and territories have already made purchases, even though only 28 of the 48 spots on the field have been filled.

Completing the top 10 countries in terms of tickets already purchased are England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina and France, in order, FIFA said. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.

“As national teams from around the world compete for a place at the historic FIFA World Cup 26, I am thrilled that so many football-loving fans also want to be part of this watershed event in North America,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a press release.

He added: “It is an incredible response and a wonderful sign that the biggest, most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history is capturing the imagination of supporters around the world.”

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FIFA also announced that its sales site has opened – and tickets for the World Cup finals in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were available there as of Thursday afternoon at prices ranging from $9,538 to $57,500 per seat.

FIFA has not released specific figures on the number of tickets sold for particular matches, nor has it provided breakdowns by host venue. The country has also not issued a table of list prices for tickets, as has been the case for every previous World Cup since at least 1990.

FIFA’s announcement came after President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he might consider moving World Cup matches to be played in the Boston suburbs to other locations his administration deems unsafe.

The start of ticket sales does not eliminate the unique questions for consumers heading to the tournament, especially about how to obtain visas, if necessary, to visit the U.S. as the country cracks down on immigration. An international friendly between defending champion Argentina – featuring Lionel Messi – and Puerto Rico was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, due to sluggish ticket sales that some say was a response to the immigration crackdown.

The buyers who purchased the tickets in this first round of availability were selected from 4.5 million registrations in a lottery that took place last month. The entry period for the next draw will open to fans on October 27, FIFA said, noting that single-match tickets for all 104 matches, along with venue- and team-specific tickets, will be released.

Based on reported stadium attendance figures, there are approximately 7.1 million seats to be filled for the tournament’s 104 matches across 16 North American locations. It is unknown how many of those seats will be available for sale to the public.

Ticket data showed that the lowest-priced seats – set at $60 – were available for at least 40 games. Nearly all seats for the vast majority of matches were set at a much higher price. The opening US match, to be played in Inglewood, California, had prizes ranging from $560 to $2,735 when sales began. The resale site on Thursday listed at least one ticket for the opening match in the US on June 12 for $61,642.

Fans with the purchase option could choose seats in one of four categories; Category 1 is what FIFA officials call the best seats, Category 4 is somewhere around the tops of stadiums. Ticket costs are expected to fluctuate as football’s biggest event uses dynamic pricing for the first time.

Winners in the second phase of the draw can purchase a ticket from mid-November to early December. A third phase, called a random selection draw, will begin after the final draw of teams on December 5 determines the World Cup schedule.

FIFA has said tickets will also be available closer to the tournament on a first-come, first-served basis.

Los Angeles Lakers guard – and Real Madrid fan – Luka Doncic was announced Thursday as the latest ambassador for the World Cup games to be played in Southern California next year.

Doncic speaks four languages, making the Slovenia native well suited to be part of the official group that will welcome the soccer world to the Los Angeles area.

“I’ve always been a football fan,” Doncic said. “Los Angeles is a great city full of great people who love to play and watch every sport. I can’t wait for the World Cup and it’s an honor to bring people together through a sport that connects so many cultures around the world.”

Published on October 17, 2025