FIFA begins notifying fans of 2026 World Cup ticket lottery results

FIFA began emailing applicants February 5 with results from the Random Selection Draw for this summer’s 48-team World Cup.fifa
The 33-day lottery drew over 500 million requests from fans in all 211 member associations, setting what FIFA called a record for global sports.reuters
Unsuccessful applicants can try again during a first-come, first-served sales phase in April or use FIFA’s official resale marketplace.foxsports

FIFA Begins Notifying Fans of World Cup 2026 Ticket Lottery Results

FIFA has begun notifying fans of the outcome of the Random Selection Draw for the 2026 World Cup, with applicants receiving emails starting February 5 revealing whether they secured tickets to this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.fifa

The lottery follows a 33-day application window that generated more than 500 million ticket requests, a figure FIFA called “a new benchmark for demand in the history of world sport”. Applications came from fans in all 211 FIFA member associations, averaging 15 million requests per day from December 11, 2025, to January 13, 2026.fifa

Record Demand Centered on Star Matchups

The most coveted match was the Group K clash between Colombia and Portugal scheduled for June 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. That fixture drew particular interest due to superstar appeal, with resale prices surging more than 500 percent immediately after the draw, briefly topping $3,000 before settling around $2,200, according to data tracked by ticketdata.com.fifa

Rounding out the top five most requested matches were Mexico vs. Korea Republic in Guadalajara, the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the tournament opener featuring Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, and a round-of-32 match in Toronto.fifa

Outside the three host nations, fans from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia submitted the highest number of applications.reuters

Options Remain for Unsuccessful Applicants

“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand — it’s a global statement,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “Knowing how much this tournament means to people around the world, our only regret is that we cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums”.fifa

Fans who miss out in the lottery will have additional opportunities. A last-minute sales phase is scheduled to begin in early April, offering remaining tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. FIFA’s official resale marketplace, which charges both buyers and sellers a 15 percent fee, also remains available for those seeking secondary-market tickets.fifacollect

The expanded 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, with approximately four to five million tickets believed to remain available after earlier presales distributed roughly two million tickets before the full schedule was announced.foxsports