m88worldcups.com – FIFA announced that it received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during the one-month Random Selection Draw registration period.

This figure underscores an unprecedented level of global interest in the first tournament to feature a 48-team format, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The registration period ran from 11 December to 13 January, following the World Cup draw and the announcement of the match schedule in December.

Most In-Demand Matches

FIFA confirmed that ticket applications were submitted by fans from all 211 member associations.

The host nations, namely the United States, Mexico, and Canada, were among the countries with the highest number of applicants, alongside Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

The most requested match at this stage was the Colombia versus Portugal fixture scheduled to take place in Miami on 27 June.

In addition, several other matches also attracted significant interest, including Mexico versus South Korea in Guadalajara, the World Cup final in New Jersey on 19 July, the tournament opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, and a Round of 32 match in Toronto on 2 July that is expected to involve either Portugal or Colombia.

High Demand Amid Ticket Price Criticism

The scale of demand remains striking even when viewed in a broader context. FIFA had previously sold around two million tickets through a pre-sale phase conducted before the full tournament schedule was announced, and it is estimated that approximately four to five million tickets remain available for the entire tournament, which will feature 104 matches.

Each ticket application covered between one and four tickets, meaning that more than 500 million requests could represent interest in more than one billion individual tickets.

Although FIFA has described the high level of demand as justification for its pricing strategy, ticket costs have continued to draw criticism from supporters, particularly in North America.

Ticket prices across all stages of the tournament have been recorded as significantly higher than at previous World Cups, a situation that has led some fans to abandon plans to attend in person, while others have turned to the resale market.

Secondary Market and Price Increases

According to a report by The Athletic, resale platforms such as StubHub and Vivid Seats are currently offering many match tickets at prices far above face value.

However, those prices could change, particularly for less prestigious group-stage matches, as the tournament draws closer.

Verification Process and Applicant Notifications

FIFA stated that it conducted validation checks during the registration process, emphasizing that each application was linked to unique credit card data and limited by household-based quantity regulations.

Applicants will begin receiving notifications by email as early as 5 February, with application statuses classified as successful, partially successful, or unsuccessful.

For fans who do not secure tickets, FIFA will provide additional opportunities through last-minute sales phases held closer to the start of the tournament, using a first-come, first-served system.

Next Stages Toward the 2026 World Cup

FIFA also emphasized that its official ticketing platform and officially managed resale marketplaces are the only authorized channels for purchasing tickets.

The 2026 World Cup will begin on 11 June in Mexico City and conclude on 19 July in New Jersey.

The tournament will be the largest in FIFA history and, if early indications continue, has the potential to become the sporting event with the highest level of demand ever staged.