FIFA initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup on Monday, marking the commencement of the tournament’s second phase of ticket sales. The new ticket draw, running until 11 a.m. Eastern Friday, includes a special period for residents of the host countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to purchase single-match tickets for games within their home nation.
All fans worldwide are eligible to participate in this phase, irrespective of their country of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, expressed excitement about the global interest in the event, especially from within the host nations.
Residents of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who enter the draw before the deadline on Friday stand a chance to secure a time slot to purchase tickets starting from Nov. 12. These slots will be allocated until Nov. 15, with winners being notified at least 48 hours prior to their purchasing time slot.
In the initial ticketing phase, residents of the host countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, led ticket purchases, followed by fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France. After the domestic exclusivity period ends, more fans will have the opportunity to secure purchasing slots starting on Nov. 17, with additional ticket phases to follow.
FIFA reported that over one million tickets have already been sold for the World Cup, with individuals from 212 different nations and territories making purchases. As of now, 28 spots out of the 48 team slots have been filled for the tournament.
The start of ticket sales raises consumer concerns about visa requirements for visiting the U.S. amid immigration enforcement measures. A friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was relocated due to slow ticket sales potentially linked to the immigration policies.
With approximately 7.1 million seats available across 16 North American venues for 104 matches, the distribution of seats for public sale remains uncertain. Ticket pricing varies, with the lowest-priced seats at $60 for multiple matches, while premium seats for the opening U.S. match ranged from $560 to $2,735. Dynamic pricing will be implemented for the first time, offering fans choices across four ticket categories based on seating preferences.
