Five million ticket requests in 24 hours underlines soaring global demand for the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Unprecedented global demand signals soaring interest ahead of the first 48-team World Cup across North America.
USA | By Sayer Zaland
Global demand for the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached historic levels within hours of ticket sales opening, with five million ticket requests submitted in the first 24 hours of the Random Selection Draw phase, according to information received by ASJFNews as part of an official FIFA press release.
Fans from more than 200 countries and territories applied for tickets via FIFA’s official platform, underlining the scale of anticipation for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, scheduled to be staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Among the group-stage fixtures, Colombia vs Portugal in Miami emerged as the most requested match. It was followed by Brazil vs Morocco, Mexico vs Korea Republic, Ecuador vs Germany, and Scotland vs Brazil, with the top five matches featuring teams from five continents.
The three host nations accounted for the highest volume of ticket requests, followed by Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France, and Panama. FIFA highlighted particularly strong interest from South American and Central American countries, while Scotland’s presence reflected excitement over the team’s return to the World Cup after 28 years.
The Random Selection Draw will remain open until 13 January 2026, with FIFA confirming that the timing of applications does not affect selection chances. Tickets will also be available through official resale platforms, hospitality packages, and authorized travel partners.
The 2026 tournament will be the largest World Cup in history, with FIFA stating that revenues generated will be reinvested into football development across its 211 member associations.