Rabat – The FIFA World Cup 2026 has sparked an extraordinary global response, with hopeful fans submitting over 500 million ticket requests during the 33-day Random Selection Draw phase that ran from December 11 to January 13.
Applications poured in from fans in all 211 FIFA Member Associations, demonstrating the worldwide appeal of the first tournament to feature 48 teams.
Fans submitted an average of 15 million ticket requests every day, validated through unique credit card information.
Beyond the host nations – the US, Mexico, and Canada – the highest number of applications came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.
The match that drew the most attention was Colombia against Portugal in Miami, Florida on June 27.
Other high-demand fixtures included Mexico versus Korea Republic in Guadalajara on June 18, the final in New York/New Jersey on July 19, the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on June 11, and the round-of-32 match in Toronto, Canada on July 2.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand – it is a global statement,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“We thank football fans everywhere for this remarkable response. Our goal now is to offer multiple ways for fans to experience the tournament, both inside and outside stadiums, so as many people as possible can be part of this historic event.”
The FIFA Ticketing service will now check that all applications meet the rules and household limits. Where demand exceeds supply, tickets will be distributed through a random selection process to ensure fairness.
Fans will receive an email no earlier than February 5 to learn the results. Successful or partially successful applicants will be automatically charged.
Those who do not secure tickets in this phase will have a second opportunity during the Last-Minute Sales phase, which operates until the end of the tournament on a first-come, first-served basis.
Entry to host countries is not guaranteed with a ticket alone, and fans are advised to submit visa applications as soon as possible.
