FIFA initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup on Monday, marking the beginning of the second phase of sales through a new ticket draw. This draw, running until 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday, features a special time slot exclusively for residents of the tournament’s 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 within their home country.
The sales phase is open to fans worldwide, regardless of their country of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, expressed enthusiasm for the global interest in the event, particularly from the host countries. He highlighted the significance of the second phase, which includes a domestic exclusivity time slot for local fans while ensuring fairness for fans globally.
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 for ticket purchase, starting on Nov. 12. These slots will be allocated until Nov. 15, with successful entrants notified at least 48 hours before their purchase window opens. In the initial ticketing phase, residents of the host countries, led by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, purchased more tickets than any other nation. Following the domestic exclusivity period, additional fans will become eligible to secure purchasing slots beginning on Nov. 17, with more tickets to be released in subsequent phases.
Earlier this month, FIFA disclosed that over one million tickets had already been sold for the World Cup, with individuals from 212 countries and territories having made purchases. Notably, 28 out of the 48 team slots for the tournament have been filled. As ticket sales progress, the focus shifts to addressing consumer concerns, including visa requirements for travel to the U.S., amid immigration policy changes. The relocation of an international friendly match from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to ticket sales issues has sparked discussions on attendance logistics for the tournament’s matches across 16 North American venues.
With approximately 7.1 million seats available for the 104 matches, pricing strategies vary across categories, with the lowest-priced seats starting at $60 for numerous games. Ticket costs for premium seats range significantly, with the opening match for the U.S. offering prices from $560 to $2,735 during the initial sales phase. Dynamic pricing will be employed for the first time, allowing fans to select from different seat categories, with varying price points reflecting the value attributed to each seating option.