FIFA has initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup, kicking off the tournament’s second phase of ticket sales with a new draw. The draw, running until 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday, offers a special time slot exclusively for residents of the host countries – United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these nations selected in the draw will have the chance to purchase single-match tickets for games held in their home country.
The second phase is open to fans worldwide, not limited by their country of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s COO, expressed excitement over the global interest in the event, particularly within the host countries. The domestic exclusivity time slot acknowledges local fans while ensuring a global ticketing opportunity.
Participants from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico entering the draw before the Friday deadline stand a chance to secure a time slot for ticket purchase starting from November 12. The winners will be notified at least 48 hours before their allotted time slot opens. The initial ticketing phase saw residents of the host nations making the most ticket purchases, followed by fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.
As the domestic exclusivity period concludes, additional fans will become eligible for ticket purchasing slots starting on November 17, with more tickets to be released in subsequent phases. FIFA reported over one million tickets sold for the World Cup, with buyers from 212 countries and territories. Notably, 28 out of the 48 team spots in the competition have been filled.
The availability of tickets does not overshadow concerns consumers may have regarding visa requirements, especially for travel to the U.S. amidst immigration restrictions. Notably, an international friendly match featuring Argentina was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to lower than expected ticket sales, possibly influenced by immigration policies.
With approximately 7.1 million seats across 16 North American venues for 104 matches, the number of seats available for public sale remains undisclosed. Ticket prices vary, with the lowest-priced seats at $60 for multiple matches, while premium seats for the opening U.S. match sold at considerably higher rates. Fans can select tickets from four categories, with prices expected to fluctuate through dynamic pricing for this prestigious soccer event.