Excitement is building across North America as FIFA officially kicks off the highly anticipated first phase of ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the tournament set to begin on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, fans are already scrambling to secure their seats for what promises to be a record-breaking event. The opening window, known as the Visa Presale Draw, launches on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, and will run until Friday, September 19.
For soccer diehards and casual fans alike, this is the first—and perhaps best—chance to get in on the action. But as many have learned from past tournaments, scoring tickets may not be easy or cheap! With group-stage tickets starting at $60 and the most exclusive seats for the final soaring to $6,730, the price range reflects the massive scale and prestige of the world’s most-watched sporting event.
To participate, fans must register their interest and create a FIFA ID at FIFA.com/tickets. Only those with a valid Visa credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card can enter the Visa Presale Draw. According to Danny Navarro of TravelFutbolFan, "We're not buying tickets on Wednesday. We are applying for the chance to buy tickets in October. It's only open for those with a valid Visa credit card, debit card or reloadable prepaid card."
The process itself is a randomized lottery, not a first-come, first-served rush. The timing of a fan’s entry during the window won’t affect their chances, so there’s no need to panic-click at the opening bell. Successful applicants will be notified by email starting September 29 and will receive a specific date and time slot to purchase tickets, beginning October 1. However, a successful application doesn’t guarantee ticket availability—everything depends on the draw and demand at that moment.
Heimo Schirgi, FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, captured the anticipation, stating, “With just 10 months to go until the FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off, we are excited to launch the first phase of ticket sales for the tournament. This marks a momentous milestone as we build up to this historic event, and we look forward to millions of fans joining us in North America next June.”
For those worried about missing out, there’s good news: FIFA has structured ticket sales in multiple phases to manage the expected overwhelming demand. The first presale phase—the Visa Presale Draw—will see about one million tickets released, representing roughly one-sixth of the total tournament allocation. After this, two more phases will follow. The second, called the “Early Ticket Draw,” is expected to run from October 27 to October 31, with purchase windows from mid-November to early December. The third phase, “Random Selection Draw,” will take place after the World Cup draw on December 5, 2025, allowing fans to apply for specific matches once the tournament schedule is set.
Fans can apply for up to four tickets for as many as 10 matches during the initial lottery, offering flexibility for those hoping to follow their favorite teams or experience the tournament’s magic in multiple cities. Still, as Danny Navarro pointed out, "If you are looking for a ticket to one game for a specific team, it's not gonna work out for you because you don't know where [a team] is playing until the World Cup draw on December 5th. Now if you want to follow [a country] and go to all of their games in the group stage, then you would apply on September 10th to follow a team or the team series package."
Dynamic pricing is expected to play a significant role this time around. FIFA officials have indicated that prices for many games could change after the draw, as demand for certain teams or matchups becomes clear. “What FIFA is doing is adapting to the domestic market,” a FIFA official explained. “It’s a reality in the U.S. and Canada that events are being priced as per the demand that is coming in for that event.”
Hospitality packages are already available, with prices ranging from $3,500 to a staggering $73,200 per person, depending on the level of luxury and exclusivity. FIFA expects to generate more than $3 billion from hospitality and ticket sales, and they’re confident this World Cup will break the all-time attendance record set in 1994, the last time the tournament was played in the United States. That event featured just 24 teams and 52 matches, while the 2026 edition will be the largest ever, boasting 48 teams and 104 games spread across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Additional ticket products will be rolled out closer to the tournament, including “supporter tickets” for fans who want to sit with others backing the same team and “conditional supporter tickets” for those hoping to follow their team into the knockout rounds. For fans seeking flexibility, remaining inventory will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis as the tournament approaches.
There are also special perks for American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program members, who can redeem miles for tickets starting October 13, 2025, depending on their status. “Members can save the date and start saving up miles to get first access to redeem miles and lock in their seats for the world’s largest soccer matches,” the airline announced.
To protect fans from scams and invalid resale, FIFA will launch a secure, official resale platform at FIFA.com/tickets later in 2025. The organization strongly encourages supporters to purchase tickets only through official channels, warning that tickets from unofficial sources may not be valid for entry. Hospitality packages can be purchased directly from FIFA.com/hospitality.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, will host eight games, including the U.S. team’s opener on June 12 and its group-play finale on June 25. But for now, the identities of the U.S. team’s opponents—and all other group-stage matchups—remain a mystery until the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on December 5.
With 65,000 volunteers being recruited across the three host nations, and a tournament spanning 39 days, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest, and most accessible yet. But as Travis Broom, a hopeful ticket buyer, put it, “Group stage, maybe $250 a person, I’d say. I think that’s a reasonable price. I mean, it is a lot. I mean, they do have to go through a lot. But at the end of the day, if there’s a big outcome at the end. So if they’re willing to go through the effort in the end, it’s worth it.”
With the Visa Presale Draw now underway and ticket fever rising, the race is on to be part of soccer history. Whether you’re a diehard supporter, a newcomer to the sport, or just hoping to soak up the atmosphere, now’s the time to act. The world’s biggest soccer party is coming—and it’s closer than ever.
