Quick Summary: 2026 World Cup Tickets
- 🎟️ Expected World Cup Ticket Sale Date: FIFA announced ticket sales begin on September 10.
- ✅ Where to Buy: Register at FIFA website to apply for tickets.
- 💰 Ticket Prices: Started at $11 in 2022; final match from $200. Tickets could be pricier in USA.
- 📈 2026 Pricing Model: Dynamic pricing— prices may rise or fall based on demand.
- 🚫 Avoid: StubHub and resale sites (for now)— tickets currently listed are placeholders.
With the United States hosting the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, American fans, potentially like yourself, are already asking: When do World Cup tickets go on sale? FIFA has announced the first ticket sale date, and we are here to help you plan when you can expect to be able to buy them.
FIFA will start selling World Cup 2026 tickets on September 10. Now, it is a bit more complicated than a normal ticket sale as you need to apply to purchase tickets. Only select fans will be notified that they have an opportunity to purchase tickets on September 10.
You may notice that World Cup tickets are already available on StubHub for crazy prices. Fans would be wise to avoid purchasing these given tickets have yet to go on sale.
For big events like the World Cup, Super Bowl and national championship games, the secondary market tends to list tickets before they have actually been available for purchase. These also tend to come with premium pricing.
According to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, FIFA plans to begin selling tickets during the third quarter of 2025, meaning we could see more release dates coming soon.
“FIFA said that ticket sales for the World Cup are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025 via their official website and that further details will be released in due course,” Crafton wrote.
Here is what you need to know about buying 2026 World Cup tickets.
World Cup Tickets Release Date: When Do Tix Normally Go On Sale?
The 2022 World Cup was a bit of an outlier as the event took place in December as a result of the heat in Qatar. These tickets went on sale to the general public on March 21, 2022, about 10 months before the World Cup began.
A better point of reference is the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a more traditional summer schedule comparable to 2026. The ticket sale process started in September 2017 for those who registered in advance through FIFA.
After this initial round, the first come, first serve process (i.e. anyone could buy tickets) began on November 16, 2017, and ended less than two weeks later on November 28.
The first wave of fans can begin purchasing tickets on September 10 with additional release dates expected in the future.
How Can Fans Purchase World Cup Tickets for 2026?
If past World Cups are any indication, fans who register with FIFA will be able to purchase tickets before the general sale date. Click here to register with FIFA and apply for World Cup tickets. There is typically a lottery conducted if more people register than there are available tickets.
World Cup Ticket Prices: How Much Money to Buy Games?
World Cup ticket prices for 2026 have yet to be announced (aside from certain packages), but we can rely on past data to have a good sense of what fans can expect in the United States. FIFA created four different categories in 2022.
Category one were the prime seating options feature premier tickets that were the most expensive seats. Categories two and three were the additional seating options that were not quite as coveted. Finally, Qatar residents were given the opportunity to purchase category four tickets.
According to Sporting News, some World Cup tickets in 2022 were as low as $11 with $200 being the cheapest ticket for the final match in Qatar. It would not be a surprise if these prices were higher in the United States given the demand. Additionally, the World Cup will be back to its normal schedule in the summer rather than during the holiday season like the weirdness that was 2022.
Finally, COVID currently does not appear to be impacting attendance for concerts and sporting events as in 2022.
“So far, the only ticket packages available to purchase for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, have been limited to hospitality offerings which feature multiple games packaged together,” Crafton noted. “Prices for those packages start at $3,500 per person, soaring to $73,200.”
The World Cup Plans to Utilize a Dynamic Pricing Model
The good news for fans hoping to attend the 2026 World Cup is the event will feature an expanded field of 48 teams, the largest ever for the event. You don’t have to be great at math to realize that more teams equals more games which creates more tickets to buy with the added matches.
The more controversial World Cup news is FIFA is using a dynamic pricing model. Like the FIFA Club World Cup, this means that the ticket prices will fluctuate with demand.
The problem we saw with the Club World Cup is FIFA did not seem to drop the prices of tickets for some matches and seemed content having nearly empty stadiums for many of the games.
As for the World Cup pricing, the model means that in-demand games will likely cost more per ticket, while tickets are supposed to drop for less marquee matchups.
TLDR: Here is a helpful FAQ on EVERYTHING you need to know about buying World Cup tickets.
2026 World Cup Tickets: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🎟️ When do 2026 World Cup tickets go on sale?
FIFA has revealed that ticket sales are expected to begin on September 10 for fans who are selected following their applications. Fans should keep an eye on FIFA’s official ticketing website for announcements and registration opportunities.
🇺🇸 Can Americans buy 2026 World Cup tickets?
Yes! Americans can absolutely purchase 2026 World Cup tickets. In fact, since the tournament is hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, there will be more accessible local options than ever before. FIFA will conduct sales directly through their platform, and U.S. fans can register for the opportunity to buy.
❌ Are World Cup tickets on StubHub right now legit?
Yes and no. While tickets for 2026 World Cup games are currently listed on resale sites like StubHub, they are not officially available yet. These are typically placeholder listings and come with outrageous prices. It’s safest to wait for FIFA’s official sale to avoid inflated prices or potential scams.
💰 How much will 2026 World Cup tickets cost?
Exact prices have not been announced, but past World Cups give us a guide. In 2022, group stage tickets started as low as $11, and final match tickets began at $200. Prices in the U.S. are likely to be higher, especially with FIFA’s dynamic pricing model, which adjusts prices based on demand.
⚡ What is dynamic pricing for World Cup tickets?
Dynamic pricing means that ticket costs will fluctuate based on demand. High-demand games will likely be more expensive, while lower-demand matches may see prices drop. This model can reward fans who are flexible with their dates and match choices.
🌍 How do I register for World Cup tickets?
Fans can register on FIFA’s official ticketing website to be eligible for ticket sales. Registering early often gives you access to exclusive presales or lotteries before tickets are released to the general public.
🏟️ Will there be enough tickets available?
Yes, the 2026 World Cup is expanding to 48 teams and 104 games, meaning there will be significantly more tickets available compared to previous tournaments. While popular games like the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and knockout rounds will sell out quickly, there should be a wide range of ticket options for other matches. You may need to be willing to pay a bit of money to make it happen or be flexible with what game you attend.
is a sports and news contributor based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than a decade, Jonathan has written for top media outlets like SI, Athlon Sports, Heavy.com and BetUS among others. Jonathan has traveled all over the world, attending major sporting events in England, Brazil, Italy and Spain. He graduated from UCF with a Master of Sport Business Management degree and has worked inside the industry in a variety of capacities in the sports world. Follow him on Twitter @JonDAdams.
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