FIFA has initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup, commencing the second phase of ticket sales with a new draw. This draw, which will run until 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday, includes a special time slot exclusively for residents of the host countries – United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these nations chosen in the draw will have the opportunity to purchase single-match tickets for games taking place within their home country.
The ticket sales 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 massive global interest in the upcoming World Cup, particularly from the host countries. This second phase, featuring a domestic exclusivity time slot for the host countries, aims to acknowledge local fans while also providing a global opportunity.
Fans from the U.S, Canada, and Mexico who participate in the draw before its closure on Friday stand a chance to secure a time slot for purchasing tickets starting November 12. These slots will be allocated until November 15, with winners receiving notification at least 48 hours in advance of their time slot. During the initial phase of ticketing, residents of the host countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico – accounted for the highest ticket purchases, followed by fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.
Following the conclusion of the domestic exclusivity time slot, more fans will become eligible to secure a purchasing slot starting on November 17. FIFA has confirmed that additional tickets will be released in subsequent phases. The organization recently announced the sale of over one million tickets for the World Cup, with individuals from 212 different countries and territories already making purchases. Currently, 28 out of the 48 team spots for the tournament have been filled.
As the tournament approaches, there are concerns among consumers regarding logistics such as visa requirements, especially for visiting the U.S. amid stricter immigration policies. Notably, an international friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to slow ticket sales, possibly linked to the immigration situation.
With approximately 7.1 million seats available for the 104 matches across 16 North American venues, the distribution of seats for public sale remains unspecified. Ticket pricing data reveals that lower-priced seats at $60 were available for at least 40 matches, while most seats were priced higher. For instance, tickets for the U.S. opening match in Inglewood, Calif., ranged from $560 to $2,735 during the initial sales phase. Resale listings indicated ticket prices exceeding $60,000 for that particular match.
Fans selecting to purchase tickets have the option to choose from four categories, ranging from Category 1 offering premium seating to Category 4 providing seats at the higher levels of the stadiums. Ticket prices are anticipated to vary as the World Cup implements dynamic pricing for the first time.