The fourth and final phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup began on Wednesday, the FIFA announced without specifying the number. This last-minute sales phase opened in the morning on the official FIFA.com/tickets website, as stated by the global organization in a press release. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis until the end of the competition on July 19. Tickets will be gradually released, including on match days, according to FIFA.
Buyers were directed to a waiting page to queue before accessing the site, with the possibility of a wait lasting several hours. A countdown will appear before access to the ticket sales phase is granted, with a five-minute “Entry” button visible, as per the instructions.
In total, over 7 million tickets are available for the competition, considering the capacities of the 16 stadiums hosting matches in the global tournament. More than 3 million tickets were sold in the first three sales phases, with over a million sold during the random selection sales phase in January and February, which received 500 million requests, according to FIFA.
Record to Beat: The global organization expects to break the historical record of 3.5 million tickets sold for a World Cup, set in the 1994 edition. This tournament, jointly organized by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, with 78 matches in the United States.
Controversy Surrounding Ticket Prices: Ticket sales have caused a controversy, with FIFA accused of offering tickets at exorbitant prices, contrary to promises made when awarding the tournament to the three host countries. European Fans’ organizations have filed complaints against FIFA to the European Commission over opaque and unfair purchasing practices.
FIFA defended the ticket prices, citing high demand, according to its president, Gianni Infantino. The organization also reserved a category of tickets at $60 US (approximately $83 CAD) for official fan clubs. However, this quota was nearly exhausted before general public sales opened, as claimed by fans’ organizations.
Additionally, FIFA will reopen the official ticket resale and exchange platform on Thursday. The platform has also faced criticism for high prices, with FIFA clarifying that they do not intervene in the resale market where the reseller sets the ticket prices in Canada and the United States. The legislation in Mexico differs, where it is illegal to resell a ticket at a higher price than its purchase price.
