At a Glance
- FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2025 World Cup
- The highest demand outside the U.S., Mexico, and Canada comes from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia
- Applicants will learn their fate no earlier than February 5
- Why it matters: Fans face a lottery for the most sought-after matches, with some tickets priced as high as $8,680
FIFA announced Wednesday that ticket demand for this summer’s World Cup has shattered previous records, with more than half a billion requests flooding in since sales opened. The governing body will begin notifying applicants of their results on or after February 5, using a random draw for oversubscribed games.
Record-Breaking Demand
The 500 million requests dwarf earlier tournaments and have been driven by marquee match-ups and historic host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The most-requested fixture in the third sales phase-running from December 11 through this week-was Colombia vs Portugal on June 27 at Miami Gardens, Florida.
Top five most-requested matches:
- Colombia vs Portugal – June 27, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Mexico vs South Korea – June 18, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Final – July 19, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Opener: Mexico vs South Africa – June 11, Mexico City
- Second-round match – July 2, Toronto
Pricing Backlash and Response
FIFA lists premium seats at up to $8,680 apiece, sparking criticism from supporter groups worldwide. In response, the organization pledged last month to release $60 tickets for every single game. These discounted seats will be distributed to the 48 competing national federations, which will decide how to allocate them to fans who attended their teams’ previous qualifiers.
Geographic Breakdown
Outside the host nations, demand is strongest in Europe and South America. Daniel J. Whitman reports that Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia lead the international applicant list.
Timeline and Next Steps
Applicants must wait until at least February 5 for results. For matches where requests exceed capacity, FIFA will run a computerized random selection. Successful buyers will receive payment instructions and seat assignments; unsuccessful ones will be placed on a waiting list for any returned inventory.
Key Takeaways
- The 500 million requests set a new benchmark for World Cup ticket demand
- High-profile group games and the final dominate wish lists
- A two-tier pricing model aims to balance revenue with accessibility
- The February notification date leaves fans only five months to book travel and accommodation
Gianni Infantino, president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association, has overseen the rollout but has not commented publicly on the record-breaking figures released Wednesday.
