FIFA President Reveals Record 500 Million Ticket Requests for World Cup
Global demand for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has surged to unprecedented levels, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealing that more than 500 million ticket requests have already been recorded for the tournament set to be hosted across United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking at the FIFA Congress on Thursday, Infantino described the demand as historic, dwarfing figures from previous editions of the competition.
“We had 500 million ticket requests — 500 million ticket requests,” Infantino said. “In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million.”
The 2026 tournament, which will be the first to feature an expanded 48-team format, is already shaping up to be the most commercially successful edition in football history. According to Infantino, FIFA has sold nearly all tickets made available so far, accounting for approximately 90 percent of the global inventory released to date.
“We’ve sold 100 percent of the inventory that we’ve put on the market,” he explained. “And of course, we are always putting tickets on the market.”
Despite the overwhelming demand, ticketing has become a focal point of debate in the lead-up to the tournament. Concerns have been raised over pricing structures and whether local supporters will have fair access to matches.
Infantino acknowledged the concerns but insisted that a range of pricing options remains available. “There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets,” he said.
FIFA is expected to continue releasing tickets in phases, a strategy designed to manage the extraordinary demand while maximizing revenue. With interest reaching record-breaking levels months ahead of kickoff, the 2026 World Cup is poised not only to deliver on the pitch but also to redefine the scale of global fan engagement.
