FIFA announces final phase of 2026 World Cup ticket sales

Football fans across the globe will soon get another opportunity to secure their seats for the 2026 FIFA World Cup , as the governing body has announced the final phase of ticket sales ahead of the tournament.

FIFA confirmed that the next round of ticket sales will begin on April 1 and continue until the end of the tournament, which is scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19 . The tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis , offering supporters a last chance to witness football’s biggest spectacle live.

According to FIFA, more than one million tickets were already sold during the previous sales window held between December and February , highlighting the enormous global demand for the upcoming tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier described the demand as extraordinary, saying it felt like “1,000 years of World Cups happening at once.” He also predicted that all 104 matches in the expanded tournament are likely to be sold out.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be historic in several ways. It will be co-hosted by three countries, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will feature an expanded format with 48 teams and 104 matches , making it the largest World Cup ever held.

However, FIFA’s ticket pricing strategy has sparked significant criticism from fan groups. When tickets first went on general sale in December, prices reportedly ranged from $140 for the cheapest group stage matches to as high as $8,680 for the final , drawing backlash from supporters.

European fan organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has also raised concerns about FIFA introducing “dynamic pricing” for the first time at a World Cup. The system allows ticket prices to fluctuate depending on demand, potentially pushing costs even higher for fans.

FSE, along with consumer rights group Euroconsumers , has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission , arguing that the pricing model could make the tournament inaccessible to many ordinary supporters.

Despite the controversy, excitement for the tournament remains extremely high. FIFA said that during the upcoming sales phase, fans will be able to choose their preferred seats , while those who have already purchased tickets will be able to view their seat allocations from April 1 .

With the countdown to the largest World Cup in history underway, the final ticket window is expected to trigger another surge in demand from fans eager to experience the global football festival in North America.