On Monday, FIFA launched the sale of an additional 1 million tickets for next year’s World Cup, marking the beginning of the tournament’s second ticket sales phase.
This ticket draw, open until 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday, includes a special time slot exclusively for residents of the host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these countries whose entries are selected will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase single-match tickets for games held in their respective nations.
This phase is accessible to all fans, irrespective of their country of residence.
Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, stated, “We have witnessed tremendous interest globally, particularly from the host nations, as Canada, Mexico, and the United States gear up to host the largest FIFA World Cup yet. This second phase, featuring a domestic exclusivity time slot, gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude to local fans while providing a chance for global audiences as well.”
Residents of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico entering the draw by Friday may receive a notification regarding their purchasing time slots, which will allow them to buy tickets starting on November 12. These time slots will be distributed through November 15, and successful applicants will be informed at least 48 hours prior to their designated time.
During the initial ticketing phase, fans from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico purchased more tickets than anyone else, followed by supporters from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France in the top ten.
After the domestic exclusivity period concludes, additional fans can begin securing purchasing slots starting November 17, with more tickets expected to be released in subsequent phases, according to FIFA.
Earlier this month, FIFA revealed that over 1 million tickets have already been sold for the upcoming World Cup, with purchases made by individuals from 212 different countries and territories. Currently, 28 of the 48 tournament spots have been filled by teams.
The commencement of ticket sales highlights ongoing consumer concerns, particularly regarding visa acquisition to visit the U.S., especially as immigration regulations tighten. An international friendly match featuring the defending World Cup champion Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi, was shifted from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to poor ticket sales, attributed by some to these immigration issues.
With approximately 7.1 million seats available for the 104 matches across 16 North American venues, specific numbers regarding public ticket availability remain unclear.
Ticket pricing data indicates that the lowest-priced seats, priced at $60, are available for at least 40 matches, although most seats for the majority of matches will be set at significantly higher prices. For example, tickets for the U.S. opening match in Inglewood, California, ranged between $560 and $2,735 when sales began. On resale platforms, at least one ticket for this match on June 12 was listed for over $60,000 earlier this month.
Ticket purchasers can select from four categories; Category 1 represents the best seats, while Category 4 encompasses seats located towards the top of the stadiums. Ticket pricing is expected to change dynamically as this major sporting event utilizes dynamic pricing for the first time.