Massive Demand for World Cup Tickets: FIFA Receives Over 500 Million Applications

FIFA has confirmed that it received more than 500 million ticket applications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite widespread controversy over the event’s high ticket prices. The announcement came in a statement on Wednesday, highlighting that global enthusiasm for the tournament remains undiminished.

The World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has seen supporters from FIFA’s 211 member associations submit applications. The deadline for submitting lottery-based ticket requests closed on Tuesday, and FIFA has stated that applicants will be notified of the outcome on 5 February.

According to FIFA, the highest demand outside the host nations came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia. Among the matches, the Colombia–Portugal fixture in Miami on 27 June has generated the most applications. Other matches attracting significant interest include Mexico–South Korea on 18 June in Guadalajara and the World Cup Final on 19 July in New Jersey. The tournament itself is scheduled to kick off on 11 June 2026.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked:
"Over fifty crore applications in just over a month are not merely a reflection of demand; they are a clear demonstration of football’s universal appeal. We extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to fans across the globe for this unprecedented response. We understand the significance of this tournament worldwide, and we regret that we cannot accommodate every supporter within the stadiums."

However, FIFA has faced criticism over the pricing of tickets for the 48-team tournament. Fans’ groups have described prices as “excessive” and “astronomical”. European supporters’ organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) noted that tickets are nearly five times more expensive than those for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In response to these concerns, FIFA introduced a new lower-cost ticket category in December, priced at $60 (approx. €51 / BDT 7,337).

Top Matches by Ticket Demand (Outside Host Countries)

With applications surpassing half a billion, the 2026 World Cup is poised to be the most highly anticipated and widely followed football event in history, reaffirming the sport’s unmatched global popularity.