2026 World Cup Tickets Go On Sale: How Did It Go?

Alright, let’s talk about getting your hands on some 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets. It feels like trying to get a reservation at the hottest new restaurant in town, except the whole world is in line with you. The first batch of World Cup tickets just dropped, and let’s just say it was about as smooth as a two-footed tackle.

How Did the Rollout Go?

The digital doors swung open, and millions of fans flooded the FIFA website, hoping to score World Cup tickets. What happened next was predictable chaos. Virtual waiting rooms, endless loading screens, and the classic “unexpected error” message that makes you want to throw your laptop out the window. It was the digital equivalent of a 30-person pile-up in the penalty box.

But here’s the kicker from FIFA: “Don’t worry, be happy.” A spokesperson basically said, “Yeah, we know it’s a mess, but demand is ‘extraordinary!’“ They assured everyone that when you register for the presale draw doesn’t matter. Whether you were there at the starting whistle or strolled in five minutes before halftime, your chances are supposedly the same. It’s a lottery, folks, not a race. So, take a deep breath. You have until September 19th to throw your name in the hat.

How to Get World Cup Tickets

So, how does this whole circus work? FIFA, in its infinite wisdom, has broken down the World Cup ticket sales into three phases. It’s like a tournament within a tournament.

Phase 1: The Visa Presale Draw. This one’s for the big spenders, or at least those with a Visa card. You register, cross your fingers, and hope the soccer gods smile upon you. If you’re one of the chosen ones, you’ll get a notification and a time slot to buy tickets starting October 1st. It’s first-come, first-served at that point, so may the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase 2: The Early Ticket Draw. Missed out on the first round? No sweat. Phase two is expected to kick off around late October. It’s another lottery-style draw, giving you a second chance to get in on the action.

Phase 3: The Random Selection Draw. This is where it gets real. After the final tournament draw on December 5, you can apply for tickets to specific matches. Want to see Messi’s last hurrah or witness the rise of the next global superstar? This is your chance to target the games you really want to see.

Any leftover World Cup tickets will be sold closer to the tournament, but let’s be real, banking on leftovers is like hoping for a 90th-minute equalizer when you’re down by three.

What’s the Damage To Your Wallet?

For the first time ever, FIFA is rolling out “dynamic pricing.“ That’s just a fancy way of saying prices will go up and down based on how many people want to see a particular game. Think of it like surge pricing for your Uber, but for soccer.

Initial prices are all over the place. You could snag a seat at a group stage match for as low as $60. But if you’re dreaming of being at the final at MetLife Stadium, you’d better be ready to shell out some serious cash—up to a jaw-dropping $6,730. That’s a steep climb from the $25 tickets back when the U.S. last hosted in 1994. My, how times have changed. So, get your game face on, get registered, and maybe say a little prayer. Scoring World Cup tickets is a sport in itself. Good luck.