FIFA Records Over 500 Million Ticket Requests for 2026 World Cup

FIFA has announced the conclusion of its Random Selection Draw ticket sales phase, reporting a staggering 500 million requests for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 33-day application window, which closed on 13 January 2026, saw an average of 15 million requests per day, a global statement of demand that FIFA President Gianni Infantino described as “extraordinary.”

The volume of interest for the first-ever 48-team tournament has shattered all previous records.

Outside of the host nations, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the highest demand originated from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

The most coveted fixture of the phase was the Colombia v Portugal clash in Miami on 27 June, followed by Mexico’s group match in Guadalajara and the tournament final in New York New Jersey on 19 July.

Following the closure of the draw, the Trump administration announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, effective 21 January.

While the U.S. State Department clarified that the move primarily targets immigrant visas and does not impact temporary tourist visas (B-2) required by fans, the list includes competing nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Morocco, and Uzbekistan.

To mitigate travel friction, FIFA is set to launch the FIFA PASS (Priority Appointment Scheduling System) in the coming weeks, a strategic initiative designed to grant ticket holders prioritised visa interview appointments.

To further drive global engagement, FIFA has also designated TikTok as its first “Preferred Platform.”

The multi-year program will provide fans with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, curated match clips, and a structured “creator program” allowing influencers into press conferences and training sessions.

This digital focus is intended to broaden the tournament’s reach beyond traditional broadcasting, particularly as political calls for boycotts emerge following recent civil unrest in the United States.

Successful applicants will be notified of their ticket status via email no earlier than 5 February 2026. For those who miss out, a Last-Minute Sales phase is scheduled for April, once the final teams are confirmed through the intercontinental play-offs.

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