The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced a significant development in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opening applications for an additional one million tickets. These newly released tickets are specifically designated for residents of the tournament’s host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The application window for this phase officially began on October 27.
This latest release marks the second major phase of ticket sales for the highly anticipated global football spectacle. The initial sales phase, which launched on September 11, experienced overwhelming demand, with over 1.5 million tickets allocated. These first-wave tickets were secured by fans who applied from an impressive 210 countries worldwide, all within a rapid 24-hour period.
The current second phase of ticket sales, exclusively catering to citizens and residents of the three host nations, commenced on October 27 and is slated to conclude on October 31. Following this, from November 12 to 15, individuals fortunate enough to be selected through FIFA’s lottery system will be granted the opportunity to purchase tickets from this allocation. A specific stipulation for host nation residents is that they are eligible to acquire tickets only for matches scheduled within their respective countries, with a strict limit of one ticket per person for domestic games. For international applicants, submission to the lottery is also required for participation in this second sales stage.
Heimo Schirgi, FIFA’s Head of Ticket Operations, commented on the extraordinary global interest in the tournament, noting a substantial influx of applications from across the globe. He highlighted that residents of the United States, Canada, and Mexico have collectively demonstrated the highest level of enthusiasm. Schirgi explained that the convenience of sales times aligning with local time zones in the host countries likely contributed to the heightened engagement from their citizens, making the application process more accessible for them compared to international fans.
As of now, the largest volume of ticket applications originates from the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Trailing closely, and comprising the top 10 countries for applications, are fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.
FIFA has also confirmed that even after the second sales phase concludes on November 15, additional opportunities to secure tickets will arise. A further sales window is scheduled for November 17, providing another chance for fans to apply.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be a landmark event, as it will be the first edition in history to feature an expanded format of 48 teams. In this new structure, 28 automatic qualification berths have already been accounted for within the overall tournament framework, including those allocated to the three co-host nations.
Prospective attendees are reminded that all ticket purchases are contingent upon possessing valid travel visas for entry into the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ticket prices for group stage matches will begin at $60. FIFA has also indicated that prices will progressively increase through each knockout stage, with tickets for the final match potentially reaching up to $6,730. These final stage prices are subject to market fluctuations and high demand, with premium tickets potentially emerging from secondary resale markets, especially for highly anticipated matchups.
