Nearly two million tickets have been sold ahead of the 2026 World Cup this summer, FIFA announced on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and the first round of ticket sales involving specific matches at soccer’s biggest global event is approaching next month.
FIFA said the third phase of 2026 World Cup tickets will begin on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET as part of an update about its ticket sales inventory. This buying period, called the Random Selection Draw, will occur six days after the official draw for the 2026 World Cup is held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It is the initial phase in which fans can submit applications for tickets after the group-stage matchups are revealed.
The window to apply for tickets during this period closes on Jan. 13, 2026 at 11 a.m. ET. Timing of a fan’s entry into the Random Selection Draw during the entry period will not impact the chances of success, according to FIFA. Fans of a specific national team may also be eligible to apply for Participating Member Association (PMA) supporter tickets beginning on Dec. 11, depending on the requirements of each individual team.
There are teams from 48 countries in this year’s tournament, with 42 teams qualified as of Wednesday. World Cup ticket sales began with the Visa presale in September and more than 1 million tickets were sold. An early ticket draw period then started on Oct. 27 and ended earlier this month.
There are other opportunities to buy 2026 World Cup tickets closer to the start of the tournament, but chances are running out. Here’s a breakdown of how to buy tickets:
Buy your FIFA World Cup tickets
How to buy 2026 World Cup tickets
The random selection draw is slated to begin Dec. 11 after the 2026 World Cup draw is determined on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. During this phase, fans can submit applications for specific matches once the group-stage matchups are revealed.
FIFA will also offer a last-minute sales phase closer to the start of the 2026 World Cup in June. Fans will be able to purchase any remaining ticket inventory on a first-come, first-serve basis.
World Cup tickets can also be bought through secondary ticket marketplaces, including the official FIFA resale/exchange and Stubhub.
Teams involved in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Only six spots in the 2026 World Cup remain up for grabs as of Nov. 26. The following nations have already qualified for group play:
- Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
- AFC: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- OFC: New Zealand
- UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Other Articles
Look: U.S. Olympic hockey jerseys unveiled
Explaining how Players Era arrived at its championship matchup
