FIFA Release Reveals Remaining 2026 World Cup Ticket Availability
FIFA confirmed a new sales phase for the 2026 World Cup starting April 1. The announcement followed questions about how many tickets remain. Officials released fresh figures that changed the public math.
Sales and inventory numbers
FIFA reported nearly 2 million tickets sold during two early autumn phases. The organization later said the third lottery drew “more than 500 million” requests. President Gianni Infantino specified 508 million requests for what he described as roughly seven million tickets.
By the end of the third sales period, FIFA said the winter lottery resulted in over one million tickets sold to the general public. The tournament will feature 104 matches and a cumulative capacity near 6.7 million seats.
Other ticket allocations
- Around one million tickets are thought to be allocated to national-team supporters. Not all of those have been distributed or sold.
- Hospitality packages could account for roughly one million seats across all matches.
- About 100,000 tickets were sold via the FIFA Collect digital platform.
- Sponsors, broadcasters and other stakeholders also hold large ticket allotments.
Why many seats remain available
Demand appears uneven across matches and price categories. High interest concentrated on finals, semifinals and big-team games.
Lower interest affected some matches and pricier categories. Industry sources say the cheaper Category 3 seats drew the most demand, while Category 1 and 2 had more availability.
Other possible explanations
- Bots or automated entries may have inflated lottery request counts.
- Organizers might have reserved or gifted substantial blocks to partners.
- Some tickets could be withheld for later sale at higher prices, including during the event.
Details of the last-minute sales phase
The Last-Minute Sales Phase opens April 1 at 11 a.m. ET on FIFA’s ticketing portal. Sales will be on a first-come, first-served basis without a lottery.
Fans will be able to select specific seats using a seat map. FIFA also offers a “Book the best seat” option for quicker purchases.
Tickets will be released on a rolling basis. Some knockout-round seats could appear closer to, or during, the tournament.
What was revealed earlier this year
In late February, FIFA sent an email offering an “exclusive additional chance to purchase.” That window included tickets for at least 64 of the 104 matches. Several marquee games were not offered in that surprise window.
Filmogaz.com spoke with ticketing veteran Jim McCarthy, who said the large request figures likely reflected concentrated appetite for top matches. He added that the headline totals do not show where fans were trying to buy tickets.
Open questions and next steps
FIFA has not listed which matches or price points will be available on April 1. It also has not ruled out future price adjustments. Observers will watch whether the organization reduces prices, as it did for a previous tournament with lagging sales.
The governing body also suggested the World Cup could break the 1994 cumulative attendance record of 3.5 million. That earlier event had 24 teams and 52 matches, roughly half the number scheduled for 2026.
The FIFA Release Reveals Remaining 2026 World Cup Ticket Availability provides the timeline and key figures fans need. Supporters should monitor FIFA.com/tickets closely for rolling releases and seat updates.
