FIFA initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup on Monday by launching a new ticket draw to kick off the tournament’s second sales phase. The current draw, which will run until 11 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, includes a special time slot exclusively for residents of the host nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these countries selected in the draw will have the opportunity to purchase single-match tickets for games held within their home country.
This phase is open to all fans worldwide, irrespective of their place of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, expressed enthusiasm for the significant interest in the event globally, particularly within the host countries. The second phase, featuring the domestic exclusivity time slot for host nations, aims to acknowledge local fans while providing a global opportunity.
Fans from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who enter the draw before the deadline on Friday stand a chance to secure a time slot for ticket purchases starting on November 12. These slots will be allocated until November 15, with winners being notified at least 48 hours before their designated time. In the initial ticketing phase, residents of the host countries – U.S., Canada, and Mexico – led in ticket purchases, followed by England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.
Following the end of the domestic exclusivity time slot, more fans will have the opportunity to secure purchasing slots starting on November 17. FIFA has confirmed that additional ticket releases will occur in subsequent phases. Earlier this month, FIFA reported selling over one million tickets for the World Cup, with individuals from 212 nations and territories having made purchases. Currently, 28 out of the 48 team slots in the tournament have been filled.
As the World Cup approaches, consumers are facing unique challenges, particularly regarding visa requirements to visit the U.S. amidst stricter immigration policies. Notably, an international friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was relocated due to sluggish ticket sales, possibly influenced by immigration concerns. The tournament, featuring 104 matches across 16 North American venues, presents approximately 7.1 million seats to fill, although the exact number available for public sale remains undisclosed.
Ticket pricing data reveals that lower-priced seats, starting at $60, were offered for around 40 matches, while most seats were priced significantly higher. Tickets for the opening U.S. match at Inglewood, Calif., ranged from $560 to $2,735 during the initial sales phase, with resale prices reaching exorbitant levels. Fans selecting tickets can opt from four categories, with Category 1 offering premium seats and Category 4 situated higher up in the stadiums. Ticket costs are anticipated to fluctuate due to the introduction of dynamic pricing for this major soccer event.
