Football fans around the world have displayed an extraordinary enthusiasm for tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a statement released on Wednesday, football’s governing body, FIFA, revealed that in less than a month, over 500 million ticket applications had been submitted. Despite controversies surrounding the high ticket prices, the demand has remained unabated.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, saw applications from supporters representing all 211 FIFA member associations and regions. The application window for the lottery-based ticket allocation closed last Tuesday, and FIFA has confirmed that applicants will be notified of their success on 5 February 2026.
While host nations naturally generated substantial local demand, the highest interest from abroad has come from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia. Particularly noteworthy is the Colombia–Portugal match, scheduled in Miami on 27 June, which has drawn record interest.
FIFA has published the key matches attracting the most attention, as summarised in the table below:
| Date | City / Stadium | Match | Demand Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 June | Guadalajara | Mexico – South Korea | High |
| 27 June | Miami | Colombia – Portugal | Very High |
| 19 July | New Jersey | FIFA World Cup Final | High |
FIFA President Gianni Infantino commented:
“Receiving over half a billion ticket applications in less than a month is not only an indicator of demand but a testament to the love of football worldwide. We extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to all supporters for this unprecedented response. We fully understand the immense significance of this tournament for people across the globe, though regrettably, we cannot accommodate all fans in the stadiums.”
This year’s expanded 48-team World Cup has sparked intense debate over ticket pricing. Supporters’ organisations have described the prices as “excessive” and “astronomical.” According to Football Supporters Europe (FSE), prices have increased nearly fivefold compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In response to this criticism, FIFA introduced a new lower-priced ticket category in December 2025, starting at USD 60 (approximately 7,337 Bangladeshi Taka), aimed at making the tournament more accessible.
The move has raised hopes that football enthusiasts from across the globe will once again have the opportunity to experience the excitement and spectacle of the World Cup firsthand.
