In light of the immense global interest in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lauded the unprecedented demand for tickets. Speaking at the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday, December 29, 2025, Infantino revealed that FIFA had received approximately 150 million ticket requests within just 15 days of sales. With six to seven million tickets available, the demand far exceeds the supply, illustrating the immense popularity of the tournament.

"That's 10 million ticket requests every single day. It shows how powerful the World Cup is," Infantino stated, emphasizing the global appeal of the event. He further contextualized the overwhelming demand by noting that in the entire history of the World Cup, spanning almost 100 years, FIFA has sold 44 million tickets. The current level of demand could fill "300 years of World Cups," according to Infantino.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19, will be hosted jointly by 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks the first time three nations will co-host the event. The tournament will also be the first to feature an expanded format of 48 teams, increased from 32 in previous editions, leading to a total of 104 matches.

The high demand for tickets comes amid some criticism regarding the pricing, with some fan groups claiming the prices are significantly higher than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In response to these concerns, FIFA introduced a lower-priced $60 ticket tier for supporters of qualified teams to improve accessibility.

Infantino addressed the affordability concerns, emphasizing that the revenue generated from the World Cup is crucial for the development of football worldwide. He stated that without FIFA, football would not exist in 150 countries, as the revenues generated are reinvested globally.

Infantino also revealed that fans from the United States have submitted the highest number of ticket requests, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom.

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams guarantees greater ticket revenue, as the number of games will increase from 64 to 104.

The Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 took place on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.. The event determined the groups and pathways for the participating teams.

With the tournament still several months away, anticipation continues to build. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to be the biggest and most inclusive sporting event ever, with significant economic, cultural, and community benefits for the host cities.