FIFA has announced that it has received more than 150 million ticket requests for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting a new record in the history of the tournament. The football body said the massive demand has come during the Random Selection Draw phase, which is still only halfway through, showing the huge global excitement for the upcoming World Cup.
According to FIFA, the Random Selection Draw ticketing phase began on 11 December this year and will continue until 13 January next year. Fans from around the world have applied in large numbers, making this the highest-ever ticket request count at this stage of any World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, marking the first time three countries will host the tournament together. The World Cup will begin on 11 June 2026, while the final match is scheduled to be played on 19 July 2026. Matches will take place across 16 host cities spread across the three countries.
This edition of the World Cup will be historic in many ways. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32-team format. As a result, a total of 104 matches will be played, making it the biggest World Cup ever in terms of matches and participation.
Football experts believe that the expanded format, combined with hosting in North America and the growing global fan base, has contributed to the record-breaking demand for tickets. FIFA has advised fans to carefully follow official ticketing updates and avoid unofficial platforms.
With more than a year still to go before the tournament kicks off, the overwhelming response highlights the worldwide popularity of football and the high expectations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
