How to Buy FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: Date, Price and Process | Step-by-Step Guide

The wait for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets is almost over, as FIFA has finally revealed the timeline, prices, and process for buying tickets. The tournament will begin in June 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Fans will soon get a chance to apply for tickets. But the process has many steps, and each phase has different rules. Here’s everything you need to know about getting tickets for the biggest football event in the world.

When will the FIFA World Cup Ticket sales start?

The first chance to buy tickets starts with a Visa Presale Draw from September 10–19, 2025. This is a lottery system. To join, you must use a Visa debit, credit, or prepaid card.

FIFA will randomly select some applicants and give them time slots in October to purchase tickets. “To purchase tickets (subject to availability),” FIFA explained.

If you don’t have a Visa card, don’t worry. A second phase, called the early ticket draw, will open in late October. That draw will not require a Visa card.

More Sales Phases Ahead

The ticket sales will happen in multiple phases:

• After the World Cup Draw (Dec. 5, 2025): Another phase will open, and this time, you can buy tickets for matches with known teams, dates, and venues.
• Last-Minute Sales Phase: In spring 2026, FIFA will launch a first-come-first-served sale. This will be the final chance to buy leftover tickets.
• Resale Market: FIFA will run its own resale platform where fans can buy or sell tickets safely. Popular websites like StubHub may also list tickets, but FIFA’s platform will likely be more secure.

Other Ways to Get Tickets for the FIFA World Cup

Apart from regular sales, fans have other options:

• Hospitality Packages: Already available, but cost thousands of dollars.
• Country Allocations: FIFA will give each participating nation a set of tickets. National football associations, like U.S. Soccer or the English FA, will sell them to registered fans.
• Supporter Tickets: These allow fans to sit together with their team’s supporters. FIFA will also offer conditional supporter tickets for knockout games.
• Volunteering: Fans can apply for FIFA’s volunteer program to work at matches instead of buying tickets.

How to Prepare for Tickets

Fans should register on FIFA’s website and create a FIFA ID, which is required to purchase tickets. You can also “register your interest” to receive updates.

If you don’t own a Visa card but want to enter the first phase, you can buy a Visa prepaid card to qualify.

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A FIFA official confirmed: “The ticketing system will process a $0.00 charge to the card of any applicant, to ensure that only Visa cardholders get access.”

How Many Tickets Can You Buy?

Each person can purchase up to four tickets per match for a maximum of 10 matches. That means you can buy up to 40 tickets.

For larger groups, multiple people must apply separately using different FIFA IDs.

Ticket Options in the First Phase

In October, successful applicants will choose between three ticket types:

• Match Tickets: For specific games, including the final.
• Venue-Specific Packages: Covering all group matches and one knockout match in a city. (The openers in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Toronto are not included.)
• Team-Specific Packages: Covering one team’s three group matches. If the team does not qualify, FIFA will refund the money.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices

The cheapest group-stage tickets will start at $60. But most tickets will cost more. FIFA will use variable pricing based on demand.

“We will adapt prices as per the demand we see, as per the remaining inventory,” a FIFA official said. Prices for popular teams like Argentina will rise, while tickets for less popular matches may fall.

The most expensive ticket is for the World Cup Final. FIFA said the starting price will be $6,730 — more than four times the $1,605 price for the 2022 final.

At the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Category 1 tickets for group matches were about $220, Category 2 were $165, and Category 3 were $69. Expect the 2026 tickets to cost significantly more.

What Are Ticket Categories?

Unlike U.S. sports, where you pick exact seats, FIFA divides tickets into categories:

• Category 1: Best seats, usually in lower rows on the sidelines.
• Category 2 and 3: Seats in corners or behind the goal.
• Category 4: Cheapest seats, usually in upper levels.

FIFA adjusted categories for U.S. fans, who value front-row seats more than technical viewing positions.

Visa and Entry to Host Countries

A ticket does not guarantee entry to the United States, Canada, or Mexico. FIFA clarified: “A match ticket does not guarantee admission to a host country.”

Fans must still apply for visas or meet travel requirements set by each government.

What Happens Next?

The Visa presale draw opens on September 10, 2025, and closes on September 19. Applicants will know the results by September 29. The first official ticket sales will begin in October. A full price list will likely come out when those sales start.

Until then, fans should register, get a Visa card if needed, and prepare for one of the most in-demand sporting events in history.