FIFA Receives Over 150 Million Ticket Requests for 2026 World Cup, Setting All-Time Record

Unprecedented demand highlights global appeal of expanded 48-team World Cup across US, Canada and Mexico

The world’s biggest sporting event has shattered all previous benchmarks even before a ball has been kicked. FIFA has confirmed that it has received more than 150 million ticket requests for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the highest ticket demand in the tournament’s history.

The record-breaking surge comes while the Random Selection Draw ticketing phase is only halfway through. This phase opened on 11 December and is scheduled to close on 13 January, underscoring the extraordinary scale of global interest.

2026 World Cup: Key Details at a Glance

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first tri-nation World Cup in history.

• Kick-off: 11 June 2026

• Final: 19 July 2026

• Host cities: 16 cities across three countries

• Total matches: 104

• Participating teams: 48 (highest ever)

This expanded format significantly increases the number of matches and available tickets compared to previous editions.

Infantino: “10 Million Ticket Requests Every Day”

Speaking at the World Sports Summit in Dubai, FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the demand as unprecedented in football history.

“We have six to seven million tickets on sale. In just 15 days, we received 150 million ticket requests — that’s 10 million requests every single day. It shows how powerful the World Cup is,” Infantino said.

He added a striking historical comparison:

“In the almost 100-year history of the World Cup, FIFA has sold 44 million tickets in total. In two weeks, we could have filled 300 years of World Cups. This is absolutely crazy.”

Where Are the Requests Coming From?

According to FIFA data shared by Infantino:

• United States fans submitted the highest number of ticket requests

• Followed by Germany

• And then the United Kingdom

The figures underline the World Cup’s deep reach across both host nations and traditional football powerhouses.

Ticket Price Criticism and FIFA’s Response

Despite the enthusiasm, the ticketing process has also attracted criticism. Earlier this month, several fan groups raised concerns on social media over ticket prices, noting that they were several times higher than those for comparable matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

In response to the backlash, FIFA introduced a $60 ticket tier, aimed at making matches more accessible to supporters of qualified teams.

Defending FIFA’s pricing strategy, Infantino emphasised the broader impact of World Cup revenues:

“What’s crucial is that the revenues generated go back to the game all over the world. Without FIFA, there would be no football in 150 countries. Football exists because of these revenues, which we reinvest globally.”

Dubai to Host FIFA Best Awards Ceremony

On the sidelines of the summit, FIFA also announced that Dubai will host the FIFA Best Awards ceremony next year.

The awards recognise:

• Best men’s and women’s players

• Coaches

• Teams

The winners are selected through votes cast by fans, media representatives, national team captains, and coaches.

“I can announce here a new partnership to honour the best players, coaches and teams here in Dubai,” Infantino said.“We have enjoyed the sport, and now we will enjoy even more the unity the sport brings to the entire world.”

Recent FIFA Best Award Winners

• Men’s Player of the Year (2025): Ousmane Dembélé (France)

• Women’s Player of the Year (2025): Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

A World Cup Like No Other

With 150 million ticket requests, an expanded 48-team format, and matches spread across three countries, the 2026 World Cup is already shaping up to be the largest, most commercially powerful, and most globally watched edition in football history.

As FIFA’s ticketing process continues, demand shows no signs of slowing — reinforcing the World Cup’s status as the most influential sporting event on the planet.