Ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have reopened, though the process has been marked by technical issues and the implementation of dynamic pricing strategies.

Ticket Availability and Pricing

Currently, limited tickets are available for 17 of the 72 group-stage matches. No tickets for the knockout stage games have been released as of Wednesday night. Prices vary significantly, with the highest-priced tickets for the U.S. opener remaining at $2,735 – the same as in December.

However, other matches have seen price increases. Tickets for the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City are now listed at $2,985, up from $2,355 in December. Canada’s first game on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto now has tickets available for $2,240, an increase from $2,170.

Technical Issues and Sales Phases

Potential buyers have encountered difficulties navigating the FIFA ticketing site, with some being redirected to incorrect sales phases. FIFA addressed the issue, stating the links were functioning properly by noon on Wednesday.

FIFA clarified that not all remaining tickets for the 104 games across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (June 11 to July 19) are being released at once. Additional tickets will be made available on a rolling basis.

Previous Sales Phases

  • Visa presale draw (Sept. 10-19)
  • Early ticket draw (Oct. 27-31)
  • Random selection draw (Dec. 11 to Jan. 13)
  • Unscheduled 48-hour availability (late February)

This current phase marks the first time buyers can select specific seat locations, rather than requesting tickets within a category.

Concerns Over Dynamic Pricing

Dynamic pricing, where ticket costs fluctuate based on demand, has drawn criticism. 69 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on March 10th, expressing concern that the practice would make the 2026 World Cup the most financially exclusionary to date.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated in January that ticket requests were equivalent to “the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once.” Fan groups have also raised concerns about the high cost of resold tickets, with one group filing a formal complaint with the European Commission.

Recent Qualifying and Resale

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Congo, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Sweden, and Turkey completed the World Cup field on Tuesday. Fans of teams that did not qualify, such as Italy, Poland, Denmark, Jamaica, and Bolivia, may resell tickets they previously purchased.

FIFA defends its cut of resales as a legal commercial activity under U.S. law.