2026 World Cup ticket requests break all-time record

Tuesday, 30 December 2025 | 10:53

Author: Respaty Gilang

FIFA World Cup Trophy
Source: Antara/Twitter@FIFAWorldCup

Summary

1. Record-breaking ticket demand with over 150 million requests during the Random Draw Sales phase, surpassing all previous World Cups since 1930.

2. Global interest from fans in 200+ countries fueled by the expanded format (48 teams, 104 matches), three-host-nation setup (Canada, Mexico, USA), and expectations of unprecedented inclusivity.

3. Ticket requests exceeded 3.4 times the combined attendance of all prior World Cups, positioning this tournament to become the largest spectator event in football history.

Global enthusiasm for the 2026 World Cup has reached unprecedented levels. FIFA recorded over 150 million ticket requests during the Random Draw sales phase alone, a figure that instantly shattered all previous World Cup records.

This demand volume is the highest since the tournament's inception in 1930. The Random Draw ticket phase is scheduled to end on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 11:00 local time.

At the midpoint of the draw phase, FIFA confirmed that 2026 World Cup Ticket requests came from fans in over 200 countries. This reflects the massive appeal of the first-ever tournament hosted across three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

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This surge has resulted in the 2026 World Cup being oversubscribed by 30 times. This calculation is based on verified individual credit card numbers in each ticket application, indicating genuine fan interest.

Moreover, current ticket requests even exceed by 3.4 times the total attendance across 964 matches from all 22 World Cup editions since 1930. This confirms the 2026 World Cup could become the largest spectator event in World Football history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino considers this phenomenon proof that the 2026 World Cup will deliver an unprecedented experience in global participation and fan reach.

"The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the greatest show on the planet. Over 150 million tickets requested in just the first 15 days makes this edition oversubscribed by 30 times," stated FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"We'll make history in North America by uniting the world like never before," he added.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and conclude on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Matches will occur across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

With a new 48-team format featuring 104 total matches, this will become the largest match schedule in tournament history.

The combination of the innovative format, cross-border venues, and extraordinary public enthusiasm positions the 2026 World Cup as one of the most anticipated Sporting events of the decade.