FIFA reopens last-minute World Cup ticket sales with 50 days to go

Zurich: FIFA will reopen the last-minute sales phase for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, with tickets for all 104 matches set to go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis as the tournament approaches its start in 50 days.

The governing body said more than five million tickets have already been sold from an expected total of just over six million for the competition, which is scheduled to begin on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

According to FIFA, tickets at the start of the latest sales window will be offered across categories 1 to 3, as well as front-row seat categories, depending on the match.

"At the start of sale, tickets will be available across categories 1 to 3 ⁠and the front-row seat categories, depending on the match", FIFA added that more tickets would continue to be released to the public on an ongoing basis until the final on Sunday, 19 July, subject to availability.

"Along ​with this set of tickets, additional tickets will continue to be released ​to the public on an ongoing basis up until the final on Sunday, 19 July (subject to availability", the statement added.

Pricing debate continues

The latest sales phase comes amid criticism over ticket prices. Last month, a group of US lawmakers urged FIFA to reduce costs, saying the use of dynamic pricing had made the World Cup exclusionary for supporters.

In December, FIFA introduced a limited number of $60 Supporter Entry Tier tickets in an effort to improve affordability for fans of teams that have qualified for the tournament. Those lower-cost tickets account for 10% of Participating Member Associations' allocations.

FIFA has said it is using variable pricing, under which ticket prices can be adjusted after a review of demand and availability, rather than dynamic pricing, which changes prices automatically.

The organisation said the variable pricing model was used during the first two sales phases, the Visa presale draw and Early draw. It was not applied during the third phase, the Random Selection Draw and PMA ticket sales, but is being used again for the last-minute sales phase.

Sales timing

Wednesday's ticket sales are due to begin at 11am ET, which FIFA said is 1500 GMT.

The 2026 World Cup will be staged across three host countries and will feature 104 matches, with FIFA now entering what it has described as the final stretch of ticket sales before the opening game in June.