FIFA said that around five million ticket applications were submitted in the first 24 hours of the third sales phase for the 2026 World Cup. The organization stressed that these figures reflect exceptional global interest in the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, despite public backlash over higher prices, İdman.Biz reports.
Applications came from more than 200 countries and territories. This phase marked the first opportunity for fans to request tickets for specific matches after the group draw. FIFA believes the numbers confirm strong interest in the first-ever 48-team World Cup and said it does not intend to revise its pricing policy despite mounting criticism.
Fan organizations in Europe reacted sharply to the ticket prices. Football Supporters Europe called the current pricing structure exploitative and urged FIFA to pause sales through national associations until prices are reviewed. The Football Association in England said the new model goes against World Cup traditions and ignores fans’ contribution. The German Football Association published data showing that group-stage tickets range from 180 to 700 US dollars, while final tickets range from 4,185 to 8,680 dollars. According to the English FA, attending all of England’s matches up to the final would cost more than 7,000 dollars in tickets alone.
FIFA noted that the highest demand in the first 24 hours came from the host nations, as well as Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France and Panama. The most sought-after group-stage match was Colombia vs Portugal in Miami on June 27, where Cristiano Ronaldo could feature. High interest was also recorded for Brazil vs Morocco, Mexico vs South Korea, Ecuador vs Germany and Scotland vs Brazil.
