How to buy 2026 World Cup tickets

✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 5 June 2025

With only a year to go, figuring out how to get tickets for the 2026 World Cup games is on the minds of football fans all over the world. Whether you live in one of the host countries, your team has already qualified, or you are just hopeful about your country’s chances, buying tickets to the tournament is your first step in planning your 2026 World Cup adventure.

But when it comes to buying tickets for the biggest sporting tournament in the world, it’s not quite as simple as we’d hoped. Below, we have all the information on how fans can buy 2026 World Cup tickets, from entering FIFA’s official World Cup ticket draw to splashing out the big bucks for VIP experiences.

A word of warning: Demand for World Cup tickets is always high, so FIFA can pretty much charge what they want. All signs point to 2026 being the most expensive World Cup, ever. Best of luck to you all! We’ll see you in the stands.

Apply for 2026 World Cup tickets by entering FIFA’s ticket draw

Fans hoping to get to the 2026 World Cup can register their interest on FIFA.com. By entering a few personal details, fans will receive communications from FIFA with information on tickets for the 2026 World Cup. Essentially, as soon as there is more information about entering the draw, FIFA will be in touch. 

How the FIFA World Cup ticket draw works:

  • Register interest on FIFA.com

  • When the draw opens, select the matches you are interested in

  • Phase 1 of the draw randomly allocates tickets based on matches you selected

  • Phase 2 is after the full schedule has been released and tickets can be purchased on a first-come-first-served basis

  • Phase 3 is another random selection draw based on games you’ve selected

  • Phase 4 is the final phase where all remaining tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis

After signing up on the FIFA website, when the draw opens, fans can select which games they would like to apply for in the first phase.

The first phase allows fans to apply for tickets based on the match schedule, without knowing what teams will play, only their location, date, and group assignment. Fans can apply for up to six tickets per match across four seating categories (more on that below). 

The first phase draw is expected to happen in the fall of 2025. (This is based on previous tournament timelines.) The first phase draw occurs before all teams have qualified, which is expected to happen no later than March 2026. Tickets are allocated at random across all draw entries. Fans must purchase all tickets they have won in the draw or lose them all. For example, if you were lucky enough to get tickets for two matches you are unable to buy tickets to just one match and not the other.

Then, after the full tournament schedule is determined, fans of each team will be able to apply for tickets for their team’s games. This is done on a first-come-first-served basis, and is expected to occur shortly after the full schedule release. 

After this, a second lottery phase will take place, before finishing with a first-come-first-served round for any remaining tickets.

FIFA 2026 World Cup ticket categories

When entering the draw and buying tickets, fans can apply for World Cup tickets by price category based on where the seats are in the stadium.

Category 1 tickets are the most expensive and usually offer seats in the best spots, for example by the halfway line. At the other end at the spectrum, Category 4 tickets are the least expensive and likely to be in the nosebleeds. 

  • Category 1: Most expensive, typically near the center circle

  • Category 2: Second most expensive, typically near the corners

  • Category 3: Third most expensive, typically behind the goals

  • Category 4: The least expensive, likely to be the least desirable seats. Usually reserved for locals

How much will 2026 World Cup tickets cost in the FIFA draw? 

FIFA has yet to release the full price list for general sale tickets. 

When the USA, Canada, and Mexico submitted their joint World Cup bid in 2017, the bid document suggested group game tickets would average $305. However, that was in 2017, and with prices rising significantly in the last seven years, that average ticket price is likely to be a lot higher in 2026. 

In that same bid document, it was suggested Category 4 World Cup group game tickets would average as low as $21. It also said that Category 4 tickets will only make up an estimated 7% of ticketing. 

Here’s the full 2026 World Cup ticket pricing table from the Unity Bid Book (submitted by USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2017): 

Source: Bid Book

As we mentioned above, we expect actual 2026 World Cup ticket prices to be higher than those shown in this table.

Beware of 2026 World Cup tickets on third-party resale sites

FIFA’s T&Cs do not permit the use of third-party ticket-selling platforms. They have built their own official ticket resale platform, which is the only reselling route permitted. 

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup have already begun to show on some resale platforms (like this example found on Vivid Tickets by Sky News back in April, where 2026 World Cup tickets were on sale for as much as $60,000 / £46,000). FIFA were very quick to shut this down – especially as tickets aren’t actually on sale yet – and reminded fans to only purchase tickets through the official channels. You’ve been warned. ☠️

2026 World Cup hospitality tickets and packages

Hospitality packages for the 2026 World Cup are one way fans can already get their hands on tickets. It will, however, cost you the equivalent of the GDP of a small nation. 

FIFA’s official hospitality partner, On Location, has 2026 World Cup hospitality packages available for fans, which are “ticket-inclusive offerings and series that provide premium seating, exclusive entertainment, and upscale food and beverages, with service levels ranging from private suites to shared lounges – and other festive product options within the stadium's secure perimeter – along with a variety of additional one-of-a-kind experiences.”  

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Now check out the prices. 🤑💰🫰🏼

How much are 2026 World Cup hospitality tickets?

The cheapest 2026 World Cup hospitality packages start at $5,300 for a four-game package. Prices for eight-game packages and private suites are yet to be announced. All prices are in USD.

  • Venue Packages, starting at $8,275 per person. Select your stadium of choice and watch every 2026 World Cup game in that location (from four to nine matches, depending on the stadium). There are different hospitality levels to choose from - Pitch-side Lounge, VIP, Champions Club, and FIFA Pavillion - depending on the experience you want and how much money you have to spend. 

  • “Follow My Team” Packages, starting at $6,750 per person. Choose your team and get four tickets - every one of their group games and a Round of 32 game, which will include your team should they qualify. But if your team doesn’t advance from the group, then you get to watch the group winner. These packages do NOT include travel between 2026 World Cup host cities, so that’s an additional expense to factor in. 

  • Four-Match Packages, starting at $5,300 per person. Select four group stage matches from the schedule and see them all! Some limitations apply: Two of those games must be held on a Monday to Thursday and you cannot select the opening games of the host nations (so no Game 1, Game 2, or Game 3). Until the tournament schedule is released, this option is a gamble but could make for a great 2026 World Cup trip. 

  • Eight-Game Packages - TBD

  • Private Suites - TBD

Let’s be honest, these prices are going to be untenable for the majority of fans hoping to head to the 2026 World Cup. But if you have the money to spend and want to have the experience of a lifetime, then why not? (And we will be very jealous.)

As with resale platforms, if you see 2026 World Cup hospitality packages available from any other vendor, we recommend avoiding. Sticking to official channels is the best way to keep your money safe and make sure you actually get into the 2026 World Cup.

All-inclusive 2026 World Cup travel packages

Speaking of untenable prices, fans can get their hands on all-inclusive 2026 World Cup packages through Qatar Airways. 

As the official airline partner of FIFA, Qatar Airways is able to offer fans with fat wallets “a luxurious, all-inclusive package,” which covers everything from match tickets to transport to hotel stays and flights. 

Prices for the all-inclusive 2026 World Cup packages are not yet announced, but you can register your interest with Qatar Airways. Again, this is a great offer for fans who are lucky to have the cash to spend, but probably won’t be a viable option for most of us. 

If you’re got a stash of Avios points tucked away for a rainy day, you’re in luck, as Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can pay with Avios for 2026 World Cup match tickets, “soon,” according to their website.

Get the “Right to Buy” 2026 World Cup tickets through FIFA Collect

New for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA Collect is a digital marketplace which uses blockchain tech and Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs), that allow fans to purchase “digital collectibles.” Some of those digital collectibles come with Right to Buy (RTB) rewards, giving fans the right to buy tickets for the 2026 World Cup before they go on general sale. Each RTB is valid for two tickets to a specific match. 

As FIFA put it: “A Right to Buy (RTB) is a special digital asset offered through FIFA Collect that grants fans exclusive permission to purchase FIFA tickets for specific matches.” 

Paying for the RTB rewards is not the same as buying a ticket for a 2026 World Cup game, it just bumps you up in the queue. Fans pay for the right to buy, and then will have to pay for the match ticket when it becomes available.

As of May 2025, FIFA Collect has various packages on offer for the 2025 Club World Cup games (actual tickets), which include the RTB reward for specific match tickets at the 2026 World Cup. So, if you are heading to the Club World Cup this summer and also want to get to a World Cup game in 2026, this could be one option. But remember, you don’t actually get the 2026 World Cup ticket when you purchase your package through FIFA Collect. 

It is worth noting that digital collectibles containing RTB rewards cannot be transferred for free from account to account, but can be traded on the FIFA Collect platform. This means fans who hold an RTB for the 2026 World Cup will be able to sell them on for a profit to other fans on FIFA Collect.  

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Secured your tickets? Plan how to get to the 2026 World Cup and get familiar with the 2026 World Cup host cities.