More than 1.5 million fans from 210 countries have applied for tickets to the FIFA World Cup 26 just 24 hours after the Visa Presale Draw opened, FIFA announced.
The strongest demand has come from fans in the United States, Mexico and Canada, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, England, Spain, Portugal and Germany.
“The large number of entries submitted is a testament to the huge amount of excitement sparked across the globe by the FIFA World Cup 26 and the extent to which it’s set to become a watershed in football history,” said FIFA World Cup 26 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi.
The Visa Presale Draw marks the first phase of ticket sales and the first chance for fans to secure a seat at what FIFA has called the “greatest FIFA World Cup™ yet.” Entry timing does not affect chances of success, and applications remain open until 11 a.m. ET (17:00 CET) on 19 September.
Following a randomised selection process, successful applicants will be notified by email starting 29 September and given a date and time slot to purchase tickets, beginning 1 October.
Ticket prices for group-stage matches start at USD 60. All 104 matches will be available in this phase, alongside venue-specific and team-specific ticket options.
Additional sales phases will begin in October. In the meantime, fans can purchase hospitality packages inclusive of match tickets at FIFA.com/hospitality. FIFA has urged fans to buy only through its official channels, warning that tickets from unauthorised sources may be invalid.
The Visa Presale Draw is subject to official rules published at FIFA.com/tickets. Participation is open to fans aged 18 or older, with no purchase necessary to enter or win.
