The Third Phase of Ticket Sales for the 2026 World Cup Begins
FIFA announced on Wednesday that the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup will begin on December 11. This stage, which starts six days after the draw, represents the first opportunity for fans to purchase individual tickets for specific matches, based on the exact matchups. Fans of a particular national team will also be able to request tickets for fans of the Participating Member Associations (PMAs) starting December 11. FIFA reported that more than two million tickets have already been sold. Most of these were purchased by residents of the host countries: United States, Canada and Mexico, in that order. They are followed by fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Argentina and France. So far, fans from 212 countries and territories have participated in the purchase of tickets.Eleven cities in the United States will host 78 matches during the 48-team tournament. In addition, three cities in Mexico and two in Canada will also host matches. The tournament will kick off with the opening match in Mexico City on June 11, and the final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Congratulations to all those who have already reserved their seats! And for those who haven’t yet, a new opportunity begins on Thursday, December 11, a few days after the Final Draw in Washington D.C.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
In Wednesday’s announcement, FIFA noted that “a match ticket does not guarantee admission to a host country, and fans should visit the government website of each host country today to learn about entry requirements for Canada, Mexico and the United States.” Furthermore, FIFA recommends “submitting the visa application as soon as possible”. The draw, which will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will see 48 teams distributed into four pots, from which they will be drawn to form 12 groups of four teams. An updated match schedule, assigning each match to a stadium with its respective start time, will be announced on Saturday, December 6th.With 42 teams already qualified, we are witnessing huge global interest as we prepare to soon know most of the matchups, as well as where and when they will take place. With the long-awaited opening match in Mexico City less than 200 days away, we are ready and excited to welcome fans to North America next year for the largest FIFA World Cup to date.
Heimo Schirgi, FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer
