World Cup 2026 ticket ballot explained - everything you need to know

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 11 Dec 2025 09:40 CST
• 4 min read

News

The main ticket ballot for the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico has officially opened.

It represents the first opportunity for fans to secure match tickets for the tournament since the draw and match schedule was announced last week.

It is claimed that close to two million tickets have already been sold during the first two phases of ticket releases, although fans didn’t have prior knowledge of who would be playing or at what time.

Now, supporters will be able to apply for tickets for specific matches of their choosing through the ballot.

Below, we run through everything you need to know about the World Cup ticket ballot.

How does the World Cup ticket ballot work?

The official ticket ballot for the 2026 World Cup opened at 16:00 GMT on Thursday 11 December and it will close on 13 January. There is no benefit of applying early, with every ticket available until the deadline.

Fans from across the world can submit applications for any match of their choice on FIFA’s official website, with a maximum of four tickets allowed per match and a total of 40 tickets permitted across the entire tournament for each household.

Following the end of the ballot on 13 January, FIFA will use a lottery system to determine which applicants have been successful. Fans will be alerted if they have been successful in February, via email, and they will immediately be charged.

It’s worth noting that fans will need an eligible visa to travel to the USA, Canada and Mexico, with a World Cup match ticket not sufficient.

How much will World Cup tickets cost?

FIFA have been widely criticised for the price of World Cup tickets, with many fans accepting they will be unable to attend the tournament in any capacity due to the costs associated with travel, accommodation and tickets themselves.

Costs have soared following the official World Cup draw, although FIFA have confirmed they will not use a dynamic-pricing model for the ticket ballot following mass uproar. As a result, tickets will be the same price throughout the time period of the ballot.

FIFA opted against publishing a list of ticket prices prior to the ballot, but it’s understood that fans will be aware of the costs before submitting their application for specific matches.

During the opening two phases of ticket sales, it’s reported that prices ranged from £45 for the cheapest group stage ticket to a whopping £5,915 for the most expensive ticket for the final.

How else can fans purchase tickets?

If fans are unsuccessful in the ballot, there are other ways to purchase match tickets for the World Cup.

FA allocations

Every participating World Cup nation will receive 8% of tickets for its matches to sell to supporters, although these tickets cannot be resold once purchased.

FA tickets will be weighted towards members with the most loyalty points and fans will receive an access code via email to purchase tickets on the official FIFA ticket portal from 15 December to 13 January.

FIFA marketplace

FIFA has created its own official marketplace where fans are able to resell tickets to one another and they have warned supporters against buying tickets on unofficial resale websites.

Fans are able to list tickets for any price they would like, although FIFA will take a 15% cut from the seller and buyer.

First-come, first-served

FIFA has revealed that fans may be able to purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis closer to the tournament if they haven’t sold out. FIFA are expected to use a dynamic-pricing model for these tickets.

Hospitality

The final option is to pay the obscene costs for hospitality tickets, which will be priced at thousands of pounds.

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