In a robust initial indication of worldwide excitement, FIFA revealed Thursday that it has already sold more than 1 million tickets to the 2026 World Cup, despite only 28 of the 48 competing teams being booked.

The tournament, hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has already reached fans in over 212 countries and territories.

Early Sales, Huge Demand

The tickets already sold are from FIFA's first "Visa Presale Draw" stage, a lottery process available to qualifying Visa cardholders, held in September. According to FIFA, over 4.5 million individuals signed up for this draw. The success of this initial sale phase highlights frenzied pent-up demand for what will be the most extensive and logistically complicated World Cup ever.

Of all the tickets already sold, demand is driven by the three host countries of the tournament — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — with very strong interest coming from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino greeted the numbers, deeming them "a wonderful sign that the largest, most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history is stirring the imagination of fans all over the world." He added the milestone was particularly notable as numerous matches' players remain anonymous.

Pricing Strategy & Ticketing Mechanics

The 2026 World Cup is the first time that FIFA has employed a dynamic pricing system, where ticket prices can go up or down based on demand and supply. Group-stage entry prices start at US$60, but high-demand games (particularly in later stages) can go significantly higher. For instance, tickets to the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey on resale were going for between around $9,538 and $57,500 per seat as of the announcement. Some of the initial U.S. matches have had astronomical resale listings—a seat available for $61,642 on the resale site. At the close of the presale draw, FIFA also opened an official resale site designed to be a lawful resale channel to drive out unauthorised or counterfeit sales. The resale site, in Mexico, will also adhere to Mexican consumer protection laws.

Interestingly, FIFA has imposed limits: each individual can buy a maximum of 4 tickets per match, and no one can have more than 40 tickets overall over the tournament.

What's Next: Subsequent Phases & Total Supply

The second phase, known as the Early Ticket Draw, will open October 27 and last until the end of the month. The phase will provide single-match tickets, team packs, and venue allocations for all 104 matches. FIFA made it clear that even unsuccessful fans in the first draw will have a chance in this second round.

Overall, FIFA estimates that around 7.1 million seats in the 16 stadiums for the tournament will be offered to the public and for affiliated allotments. Since not all stadium capacity is being sold to the general public (some are allocated for sponsorship, media, teams, and hospitality packages), the number of available tickets for regular fans will be a subset of that.

The official Final Draw, which will be used to decide where teams play each other, is scheduled for December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. After the draw is finalized, allocating teams to match schedules, the entire set of match-level ticketing will be rolled out for public purchases and resales.

Challenges & Reactions

Although the robust ticket sales are a vote of confidence, they also come against the backdrop of anxiety and criticism. Some analysts and supporters have objected to the dynamic pricing model as potentially favoring wealthier consumers and distorting access. Others cite the need for seamless coordination in three countries, going through visa regimes (particularly for overseas supporters going to the U.S.), security arrangements, and stadium preparation.

Another twist: at least one international friendly (Puerto Rico vs Argentina) was shifted from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, in part due to ticketing and demand issues, evidence of early concerns with match economics. And notwithstanding political bluster from some sources to the contrary about moving matches, FIFA and local organizers have maintained that no such movements are in the works and that the 16 host cities are still committed.

What It Means

Crossing 1 million in early sales is psychological but real. On the one hand, it shows the demand and worldwide interest in the 2026 World Cup—fans are committing even before they know many of the teams. On the other hand, it creates high expectations: hopes for sold-out stadiums, efficient ticket distribution, and fair access will be high.

For potential supporters, the pressure is mounting: best seats are certain to fly in later rounds. For FIFA and the host organizers, the test is sustaining energy, coordinating logistics across three countries, and fulfilling pledges of diversity, security, and spectacle.

As the ticketing stages go on and the team draws near, everyone will be watching how demand, pricing, and balance intersect in what is proving to be an events behemoth in the realm of sport.