The first stage of ticketing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ has underlined the scale of anticipation for what will be the largest edition in the tournament’s history. During the ten-day Visa Presale Draw, more than 4.5 million fans worldwideapplied for the first opportunity to secure tickets to next summer’s event in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Global Demand, Local Passion
Applications came from 216 countries and territories, a clear sign of the World Cup’s unparalleled reach. Not surprisingly, the three host nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — led the way in ticket demand.
Beyond North America, the top 10 was rounded out by Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, and Italy, showing both the depth of traditional football markets and the global appetite for attending in person.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the demand as a reflection of football’s unifying power:
“The whole world wants to be part of the FIFA World Cup 26: the biggest, most inclusive and most exciting event ever seen. With 48 teams across 16 cities, the world will come together in North America like never before.”
How the Process Works
Following the close of the presale entry window:
- Notifications: Fans will begin receiving emails from Monday, 29 September, confirming whether their applications were successful.
- Purchasing slots: Successful applicants will be assigned a specific date and time, starting from Wednesday, 1 October, to purchase tickets (availability not guaranteed).
- Pricing: Group-stage tickets start from USD 60, with all 104 matches set to be included once general sales open. Venue-specific and team-specific packages will also be available.
The second ticketing phase, the Early Ticket Draw, is scheduled to open on Monday, 27 October.
A Tournament on a New Scale
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first to feature 48 teams and will be staged across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With its expanded format and record number of matches, ticket demand is expected to outpace any previous edition.
The early figures from the Visa Presale Draw suggest that interest is not only driven by local fans, but by a global audience eager to travel and be part of football’s largest-ever festival.
365247 Insight
This surge in early applications is more than a ticketing story — it is a blueprint for how mega-events can leverage scarcity, digital draws, and global fan data to build anticipation months before kickoff.
- For FIFA and rights holders: the data from 4.5 million applications offers a roadmap for market prioritization, hospitality sales, and travel partnerships.
- For host cities and sponsors: the spread of applications across 216 countries proves that the World Cup remains the ultimate inbound tourism engine.
- For brands: tiered ticketing and digital lotteries are an opportunity to integrate loyalty programs, fintech products, and fan-first activations into the event journey.
