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The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has said it received more than 500 million ticket requests for this year’s World Cup, despite growing protests over high ticket prices.
FIFA, in a statement on Wednesday, said fans from all 211 of its member nations and territories applied for tickets to the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The first application window, which used a lottery system to allocate tickets, closed on Tuesday. The global football governing body said applicants would be informed of the outcome of their requests “no earlier than February 5.”
“All successful and partially successful ticket applicants will receive communications via email and subsequently will be automatically charged for their tickets.”
Outside the three host nations, FIFA noted that the highest number of applications came from fans in Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.
FIFA said the most requested match was Colombia’s group game against Portugal in Miami on June 27.
That was followed by Mexico’s match against South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, and the World Cup final scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey.
“The most coveted match in this sales phase was Colombia v. Portugal on Saturday, 27 June, in Miami. The top 5 was completed by Mexico v. Korea Republic in Guadalajara on Thursday, 18 June; the final in New York, New Jersey, on Sunday, 19 July; the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June; and the round-of-32 match in Toronto on Thursday, 2 July – highlighting the exceptional appeal of both marquee fixtures and knockout-stage encounters across all three host nations.” FIFA said.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand – it’s a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank and congratulate football fans everywhere for this extraordinary response,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Knowing how much this tournament means to people around the world, our only regret is that we cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums.
“That is why we are committed to creating multiple ways for fans to be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 – through a wide range of fan experiences beyond the stadiums, both in person and online – so that as many people as possible can share in what will be the biggest sporting event ever staged.”
