The FIFA World Cup 2026 is making history even before kickoff, with over 150 million ticket requests from fans in more than 200 countries worldwide, recorded at the halfway point of the Random Selection Draw.

Opened on Thursday, 11 December 2025, the current ticketing phase has revealed staggering interest, making the tournament more than 30 times oversubscribed, based on verified individual credit card entries. This extraordinary demand highlights the unmatched global appeal of the world’s biggest sporting event.

To put the numbers into perspective, the volume of ticket requests is 3.4 times greater than the total number of spectators who have attended all 964 matches across 22 FIFA World Cup editions since the tournament began in 1930.

Unprecedented global excitement

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the response as historic: “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the greatest and most inclusive show on the planet. With more than 150 million tickets requested in just 15 days, this edition is 30 times oversubscribed — a true reflection of the incredible passion of fans from over 200 countries.”

He added that the overwhelming enthusiasm demonstrates football’s unmatched power to unite people globally: “We are going to make history in North America by bringing the world together like never before in a celebration of unity and the very best of football.”

A bigger, bolder FIFA World Cup

Scheduled to run from Thursday, 11 June 2026, to Sunday, 19 July 2026, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the largest edition ever. The tournament will be hosted across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, featuring an expanded lineup of 48 teams competing in 104 matches.

The Random Selection Draw ticketing phase remains open until Tuesday, 13 January 2026, and FIFA has emphasized that the timing of ticket requests does not affect selection chances. Once the phase closes, a draw will be conducted to ensure all applicants have an equal opportunity to secure tickets.

Fans who are unsuccessful in this phase will still have multiple opportunities, as additional ticket sales phases will open closer to the tournament.

Investing back into the global game

As a not-for-profit organisation, FIFA reinvests the revenue generated from the FIFA World Cup into the growth and development of football worldwide. More than 90 percent of FIFA's budgeted investments for the 2023–2026 cycle are expected to be reinvested into men’s, women’s, and youth football across its 211 Member Associations.

With record-breaking ticket demand, a historic tournament format, and a commitment to growing the global game, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be the most anticipated football event of all time.