Where to Buy World Cup 2026 Tickets

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is turning out to be one of the toughest events to buy tickets for. So where can you buy World Cup 2026 tickets?

To sum up right away, there are five main options: These are FIFA’s primary sales, the FIFA resale-exchange platform, various national football association allocations, official hospitality packages and the secondary market.

Each option works very differently, with its own rules, pricing, and likelihood of success. Understanding how each method works, and which one realistically suits you, is key to grabbing tickets for the most in-demand World Cup in history.

So let’s get started with the primary market.

World Cup 2026 Tickets

^{Compare prices for the best deals}

Primary Market FIFA Ticket Sales

For a lot of people, the starting point is FIFA’s official ticket portal. This is the main option for general admission World Cup tickets. These World Cup seats are (and have been) sold through FIFA’s ticketing site during planned sales phases.

World Cup 2026 Primary Market Sales Phases

FIFA has sold tickets for the World Cup 2026 in waves.

First up was the Visa Presale Draw, which was the opening chance to get these highly coveted football tickets. It was restricted to qualifying Visa cards—that is, valid, unexpired Visa debit/credit or reloadable prepaid cards with 3D Secure enabled.

Fans didn’t simply buy tickets outright. Instead, you entered a draw, and if you were successful you were then given the opportunity to purchase tickets through FIFA’s system. The entry window ran from 10 to 19 September 2025.

After that came the Early Ticket Draw, which was the second phase and opened more broadly. Again, it worked as an application  and a randomised selection rather than a mad rush.

Successful applicants were then assigned a designated time slot to go back in and buy tickets (subject to availability). The entry period for this phase took place from 27 to 31 October 2025.

Fifa World Cup Lottery Ticket Draw

The next phase was a lottery-style Random Selection Draw from 11 December 2025 to 13 January 2026, and it wasn’t a first-come, first-served process.

Applying on day one didn’t give you an advantage over applying on the last day, as long as you were in before the deadline.

Missed the World Cup Lottery Window?

That is definitely not the end of the road for primary market sales for World Cup 2026.

FIFA will run additional primary sales phases later on, including windows and first-come-first-served drops as the tournament gets closer and allocations are finalised.

How to Apply for World Cup Tickets on the FIFA Site

You’ll need a FIFA ticketing account (FIFA ID). Once you’re logged in, you can request:

• specific matches

…or

• packages (depending on what FIFA offers at the time)

You’ll also choose your seating category. FIFA usually splits seats into categories (Category 1 being the most premium), and you’ll often see limits such as up to four tickets per match, with an overall cap across the tournament.

World Cup 2026 Ticket Types You Might See

FIFA tends to offer a few common formats, such as:

• Single Match Tickets: One match only, in one stadium
• Team-specific series: Your team’s group matches, for instance
• Follow My Team style tickets: Follow a team, from opener to exit (or success!)
• Venue series: Attend multiple matches at the same stadium/city

If you’re travelling from the UK or Europe, the venue-series idea can be particularly handy. That way you could base yourself in one host city and build a trip around it, rather than zigzagging across North America racking up travel expenses.

Pricing and Payment for WC 2026 Tickets: Primary Market

World Cup 2026 pricing has been a hot topic. Prices vary by match and seat category, with the biggest games—prestigious matchups, matches involving superstars and knockouts—commanding eye-watering figures.

A key detail to note is that FIFA has indicated pricing can be dynamic, meaning high-demand matches can rise in price rather than staying fixed.

So the earlier headline prices you see may not reflect the actual pricing down the line.

As for payment, in the lottery phases you generally enter payment details up front, and if your application is successful, FIFA charges you once results are confirmed.

It’s wise to only request tickets you genuinely intend to pay for, because you can end up being allocated (and charged for) multiple match requests.

Demand for WC 2026 Tickets Appears Immense

This tournament is expected to be massively oversubscribed. That means:

• The overwhelming majority of fans won’t land everything they apply for
• Later sales phases become even more competitive
• Flexibility (cities, teams, match types, seat categories) can make a big difference

National Associations’ World Cup 2026 Ticket Allocations

If you’re a fan of a particular country, there’s another route to get World Cup 2026 tickets.

You can go via national football associations (the FA, SFA, FAI, KNVB for Netherlands tickets, DFB or FFF for France tickets).

FIFA allocates a portion of tickets for each match to the teams involved, and the national associations distribute them to their supporters.

These are the tickets that place you in the “team end” with the most animated fans. If that sounds exciting, well you can see why they might be in high demand and hard to get.

Why this Route is Tough for New Fans

The difficult truth is that for most new or casual fans, national association tickets are usually out of reach.

Associations nearly always prioritise supporters who have:

• Membership of an official supporters club/travel club, often well in advance
• A proven attendance history across the WC qualification cycle (loyalty points or ‘caps’ from past matches)

So even if you join now, you will most likely find yourself out of the picture or at the back of a long queue.

For countries with huge demand, that means no tickets.

How Buying National Allocation Tickets Usually Works

While the details vary by country, the pattern is usually something like this:

1. Join the official supporters club (often a paid annual membership)
2. Register interest in tournament tickets when your association opens applications
3. Eligible members receive a code or access method to apply through a supporters allocation portal
4. If demand exceeds supply (it usually does), allocations are made via loyalty point ranking, tiered membership status, a weighted ballot, or a mix of all three

Price and Availability: Face Value But Not Cheap

National association tickets are normally sold at face value (set by FIFA), which sounds reassuring until you see the actual numbers for later rounds.

Even without resale mark-ups, knockout matches can be extremely expensive, and there’s often a lot of frustration when fans realise just how low the affordable inventory is for the biggest games.

At World Cup 2026 the national team allocation is at a mere 8% of stadium capacity.

You may see a limited supporter entry style tier ($60) on some allocations, where FIFA tries to keep a small pool cheaper.

The catch is that it’s normally a tiny slice of the allocation (1% by most calculations) and heavily oversubscribed, with no hope for average fans.

The Main Thing to Know About National Allocation Tickets

If you’re already a long-term member with a solid loyalty record, this can be one of the best ways to get legitimate tickets in the supporters section.

If you’re not, treat it as something to explore rather than your main plan.

Most people will still need to rely on FIFA’s general sales, hospitality or resale in order to get World Cup 2026 tickets.

Official World Cup 2026 Hospitality Packages

If you want a guaranteed ticket and you’ve got the budget, hospitality is one option if you want to cut out the hassle and uncertainty.

Hospitality packages typically bundle:

• A match ticket in premium seating
• Access to a special private lounge
• Food and drink within the package
• A variety of extra experiences, all depending on package level

Where to Buy World Cup Hospitality Tickets

Hospitality is sold via FIFA’s official hospitality hub, which will then redirect you through the authorised provider.

You can also use the secondary market for World Cup 2026 hospitality tickets. Ticket-Compare.com will offer a wide choice of VIP/hospitality tickets for every match, across multiple validated websites.

Pros of WC 2026 Hospitality Tickets

• Tickets are guaranteed (no lottery stress)
• Better seats and a much smoother matchday experience
• Useful for once-in-a-lifetime trips, corporate groups, or anyone who values certainty

Cons of WC 2026 Hospitality Tickets

• Will usually be significantly more expensive than general tickets
• Packages can be less flexible than standard tickets
• Terms and conditions may limit resale or transfers, so you’re buying with commitment

World Cup 2026 Secondary Market and Resale Tickets

Given the squeeze on tickets, through FIFA’s sales and/or your national association, resale becomes a big option.

This includes tickets listed on resale marketplaces and ticket exchanges, including FIFA’s own platform.

World Cup 2026 Resale Marketplaces

This is the broader resale ecosystem outside of FIFA, and it’s where prices can swing wildly. The best way to stay on top of prices across all of the most reputable resale sites is to use an aggregator like Ticket-Compare.com.

Early listings may look expensive because:

• Sellers are speculating, with plenty of time to react to demand
• Inventory is limited before all primary market tickets are fully distributed
• Big matches carry massive premiums

Closer to the tournament, more tickets tend to appear, and price behaviour can go either way. We expect some matches to soften, while the biggest games are likely to stay expensive.

How to Buy Resale World Cup 2026 Tickets

If you’re hunting for World Cup 2026 tickets on the secondary market, we have a few things to keep in mind:

• Compare prices across multiple marketplaces with Ticket-Compare.com to find the best deals.
• Always look for sites that offer strong buyer protection, including refunds, replacement tickets, guarantees (Ticket-Compare.com only works with sites that offer these features)
• Be wary of off-platform sellers, either on social media, via DMs, or through unprotected bank transfer deals
• Assume a lot of price volatility, as team performance, matchups, travel trends, timing and even hotel room availability will all affect the market
• Tickets are now typically mobile/digital, so the most reputable platforms will always explain how transfer happens and when

The secondary market/resale is often the most realistic route for fans who decide late, miss the lottery, or want to get tickets for specific high-demand matches.

FIFA’s official resale/exchange route

FIFA operates an official resale/exchange platform. With this method, tickets are transferred within FIFA’s system, with a clear chain of ownership.

However, if you’re using this platform, do keep in mind:

• FIFA charges a 15% fee/commission on resale transactions for both buyers and sellers
• Prices can still be high, as they will be market-driven and affected by supply and demand

Where to Buy World Cup 2026 Tickets: Comparison Table

Where to Buy World Cup 2026 Tickets | Frequently Asked Questions

How much are hospitality tickets for World Cup 2026?

Hospitality tickets for World Cup 2026 are significantly more expensive than standard tickets.

Prices generally start at around $1,300 to $1,500 per person for entry-level group-stage hospitality and can run into tens of thousands of dollars for premium or final-stage packages.

FIFA’s official hospitality provider offers single-match packages, venue series (multiple matches at one stadium), and “Follow My Team” bundles.

All packages include premium seating plus extras such as lounge access, food, drink and entertainment.

Are World Cup 2026 tickets transferable?

Yes, standard tickets and national association (supporter) tickets can be transferred, but only through FIFA’s official ticketing system.

FIFA allows ticket holders to transfer tickets to another FIFA account, officially reassigning the name on the ticket.

The new holder can then attend, transfer again, or resell via FIFA’s official resale platform. Hospitality tickets are different: they cannot be resold or freely transferred and must be used by the purchaser or their registered guests.

Do World Cup 2026 tickets have different tiers?

Yes. World Cup 2026 tickets are sold in four pricing tiers: Category 1 to Category 4, which determine both seat location and price.

Category 1 offers the best views and highest prices, while Categories 2 and 3 are increasingly more affordable with less central seating.

Category 4 (usually behind the goals) is the cheapest tier but is typically restricted to residents of host countries, and the minority of fans able to buy tickets through their own federations.

Most international fans can only purchase Categories 1 to 3.

What is a Category 1 World Cup 2026 ticket?

A Category 1 ticket is the highest-tier standard ticket available (excluding hospitality).

It places you in a prime location, usually in the lower tier along the sideline near the halfway line, offering excellent sightlines and a central view of the pitch.

These are the most expensive standard tickets, with prices for major matches. especially World Cup Final tickets, reaching several thousand dollars. Category 1 is ideal for fans who want the best possible view, and are willing to pay for it.

Final Thoughts: Where to Buy World Cup 2026 Tickets

So that sums up the main routes to buy tickets for the 2026 World Cup. You can go through the primary market via the FIFA site, with drops taking place right up to the event itself.

Aside from the primary market, there’s FIFA’s resale/exchange platform, and the broader secondary market.

With dynamic pricing in play, it has never been more difficult to stay on top of every option. Fortunately, a site like Ticket-Compare.com offers an instant price comparison for World Cup 2026 tickets, listing options only from the most reliable secondary markets in the business.

All tickets come with 100% guarantees at the very least, and all of the sites on our platform have impeccable scores on review sites like Trustpilot.

Right now we have thousands of tickets for the World Cup available, starting from $62.

Related Articles:

How to Transfer World Cup 2026 Tickets

World Cup Ticket Prices: 2022 vs 2026

Why Are World Cup 2026 Tickets So Expensive?

What the Draw Means for World Cup 2026 Tickets

Last-Minute Football Tickets: Save Big on Matchdays