FIFA has initiated the process of releasing an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup, commencing with the launch of a new ticket draw to kick off the second phase of ticket sales for the tournament. This draw, which will run until 11 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, offers a designated time slot exclusively for residents of the three host nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these countries who are selected in the draw will have the opportunity to purchase single-match tickets for games taking place within their home country.
The phase is open to all fans worldwide, regardless of their country of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, expressed enthusiasm for the overwhelming global interest in the event, particularly from the host countries as they gear up to host the largest FIFA World Cup to date.
Fans from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico participating in the draw before the deadline on Friday stand a chance to secure a time slot, determined through a randomized process by FIFA, to purchase tickets starting on November 12. These time slots will be allocated until November 15, with winners notified at least 48 hours before their designated slot.
During the initial phase of ticket sales, residents of the host countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico – outpaced ticket purchases compared to other nations. The top 10 ticket-buying nations following the host countries were England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France, in that order.
After the conclusion of the domestic exclusivity time slot, additional fans will become eligible to obtain a purchasing slot starting from November 17. FIFA has confirmed that more tickets will be released in subsequent phases to cater to the demand.
With over one million tickets already sold for the forthcoming World Cup, individuals from 212 different countries and territories have made purchases. Currently, 28 out of the 48 team spots in the tournament have been filled.
As the ticket sales progress, there are concerns regarding visa arrangements for attendees, especially considering the U.S.’s stringent immigration policies. Notably, an international friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to sluggish ticket sales potentially linked to immigration restrictions.
The tournament, featuring 104 matches across 16 North American venues, is estimated to have approximately 7.1 million seats available for spectators. Ticket pricing varies, with the lowest-priced seats set at $60 for multiple matches. Notably, prices for the opening U.S. match in Inglewood, Calif., ranged from $560 to $2,735 during the initial sales phase. Resale prices have surged, with tickets for the opening U.S. match listed for over $60,000 on secondary markets earlier this month.
Fans purchasing tickets have the option to select seats from four categories, with Category 1 offering premium seating and Category 4 providing seats at the higher tiers of the stadiums. Ticket costs are expected to fluctuate as dynamic pricing mechanisms are implemented for the prestigious soccer event.