The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has received more than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries within 24 hours of the start of the 2026 World Cup presale draw (a lottery-based application process for tickets), world football’s governing body said on Thursday, September 11.
FIFA has received more than 1.5 million ticket applications, highlighting the popularity of the World Cup. The tournament’s extraordinary global demand has come mainly from the United States, Mexico, and Canada in North America, followed by Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil in South America and England, Spain, Portugal, and Germany in Europe.
For the first time, three countries, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, are hosting the World Cup together, with 48 teams participating and 104 matches being held in 16 host cities, which fans are also ready to enjoy, as evidenced by the ticket applications.
The draw for ticket applications will be open until 11:00 ET (17:00 CET) on September 19, and, according to Reuters, the time of entry does not affect fans’ chances of getting tickets.
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Successful applicants selected in the presale draw lottery will be notified via email starting September 29th and given a deadline to purchase tickets starting October 1st.
This article includes reporting from Reuters.