Global football fans have sent shockwaves through the sports world with an unprecedented surge in interest for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, as FIFA announced that over 150 million ticket requests have been submitted so far — a record figure at this stage of the ticketing process.
The figure, released on Monday, comes midway through the Random Selection Draw ticketing phase, which opened on December 11 and will continue until January 13, 2026. With only around 6–7 million tickets available, demand has already surpassed supply by more than 30 times, underlining the World Cup’s immense global appeal.
Fans from more than 200 countries and territories have entered the online ticket draw via the official FIFA portal, demonstrating passion for the tournament that is set to be co‑hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the response as extraordinary, noting that the volume of applications in just 15 days reflects not only the popularity of the beautiful game but also the inclusive nature of the expanded 48‑team format. He highlighted that the demand represents several times more than all tickets sold throughout World Cup history combined — a testament to the event’s global reach.
However, the record‑breaking interest has also sparked debates over ticket pricing after fan groups criticized costs as prohibitively high. In response to concerns, FIFA introduced a limited number of lower‑priced ticket options to improve accessibility.
As the countdown continues to the tournament’s kick‑off on June 11, 2026, excitement and anticipation only appear to be intensifying — proving once again that the FIFA World Cup remains the world’s most watched and passionately supported sporting spectacle.
