Third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup: When does registration end and when will I know the draw results?
The third and final phase, which consists of a random draw, also requires prior registration. Tickets can now be requested for specific matches.
2026 is finally here — a World Cup year. And the tournament coming this summer to Mexico, the United States, and Canada is set to be the biggest in history.
FIFA expects the event to shatter every attendance and viewership record, thanks in large part to its expansion from 32 to 48 teams and from 64 to a massive 104 matches.
Organizers have already revealed just how enormous the demand is: more than 150 million ticket requests poured in during the third sales phase alone. Those requests came from fans in 200 countries, an unprecedented figure. To put it in perspective, demand is 3.4 times higher than the total number of spectators who have attended all 964 World Cup matches combined since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930.
How long do I have to register for the random ticket draw?
The third sales phase is still open. Fans must create an account on FIFA Ticketing if they don’t already have one. Registration closes January 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET. After that deadline, no additional ticket requests will be accepted for any 2026 World Cup match.
When will I find out the results of the random draw?
FIFA will begin notifying applicants starting in the first week of February 2026. Fans must specify which matches they want to attend, the ticket category (1, 2, or 3, depending on seat proximity to the field), and the number of tickets they’re requesting.
If your application is successful, FIFA will automatically charge the full amount to your credit or debit card — meaning payment is processed immediately once tickets are allocated.
Some applicants will receive all the tickets they requested. However, due to overwhelming demand, most people should expect partial allocations, with only a portion of their requested tickets granted.
Tips for securing 2026 World Cup tickets through the random draw
FIFA has issued several recommendations to help ensure payments go through smoothly if your request is approved:
- Make sure your credit or debit card has sufficient funds.
- Don’t use cards that are expired or close to expiring.
- Add no-reply.fwc26@tickets.fifa.org to your email account’s safe‑sender list so you don’t miss important notifications.
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