The world’s biggest sporting spectacle is already generating global excitement, and it’s still months away. FIFA announced on Thursday that more than 1 million tickets have already been sold for the 2026 World Cup, signaling an unprecedented surge of fan enthusiasm for what will be the largest tournament in football history.
Unsurprisingly, the biggest appetite for seats comes from fans in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the trio of host nations gearing up to welcome the expanded 48-team event. However, the passion doesn’t stop there – buyers from 212 countries and territories have already secured tickets, even though only 28 national teams have officially qualified.
Joining the top trio of countries leading sales are England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France, according to FIFA. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, promising a summer of football unlike any other.
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “As national teams across the globe compete for a place at the historic FIFA World Cup 26, I am thrilled that so many football-loving fans also want to be part of this watershed event in North America. It’s an incredible response – a wonderful sign that the biggest, most inclusive World Cup in history is capturing the imagination of supporters everywhere.”
Adding to the frenzy, FIFA’s official resale platform has now opened, with final tickets at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium listed between $9,538 and $57,500 per seat as of Thursday afternoon. While FIFA has yet to release detailed ticket breakdowns or a full pricing grid – something it has done for every World Cup since 1990 – the organization confirmed that the initial batch of tickets was allocated via a lottery from 4.5 million applications submitted last month.
Fans who missed out won’t have to wait long: the next ticket draw opens on October 27, with single-match, team-specific, and venue packages all set to go on sale. The countdown has begun, and the race for seats at football’s grandest stage is already a spectacle of its own.
