Here's how to buy tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times on Dec 6, 2025

Published in Soccer

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WASHINGTON — The schedule and matchups for the 72 first-round games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup were set Saturday, determining the potential routes teams will need to take to get to the knockout stages. Here is how to buy tickets for the tournament.

Buy World Cup tickets directly from FIFA

The safest place to start is with the official FIFA website, where fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets. To get one, go to the FIFA ticketing website (FIFA.com/tickets), click the person icon, and then click "SIGN UP" to create an account with your personal details. You will need to confirm your email address to complete the process.

FIFA is rolling out ticket sales in phases and nearly two million — a third of the tournament's inventory — were claimed through the first two phases. The third phase, which will use a random selection draw to allocate tickets, will begin Dec. 11 and run through Jan. 13. It will be the first opportunity to purchase single-match tickets based on the exact match-ups of each game. Tickets are sold at a fixed price during this phase and successful applicants will be notified they have won tickets in February.

A final first-come, first-served phase is expected to take place closer to the tournament, which kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19.

Secondary market for World Cup tickets

If you can't get a ticket that way, FIFA is also managing a resale/exchange marketplace, essentially a secondary market, that offers a secure way to exchange or buy World Cup tickets. You can access the marketplace, which will reopen Dec. 15, via FIFA.com/tickets. But be aware FIFA is taking a 30% cut — in two separate 15% transactions — from every resale. For a ticket resold for $1,000, for example, FIFA takes $150 from the seller (who receives $850) and charges the buyer an extra $150 (who pays $1,150 total), resulting in a $300 profit for FIFA.

Tickets are also available on traditional secondary-market websites such as StubHub and SeatGeek.

Fan festivals offer an alternative to tickets

Still not able to get a seat inside the stadium? Each of the 11 U.S. host cities will be holding fan festivals, where people can congregate to watch the games on massive televisions.

"A majority of people that come to our market do not have a ticket to go to the match, but want to be part of the World Cup excitement," said Kathryn Schloessman, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, part of the local World Cup organizing committee.

"There's going to be these fun fan festivals, which are major viewing parties, where you can watch your favorite teams. Very family friendly, very inexpensive."

This World Cup, the second to be played in the U.S., will kick off June 11 in Mexico City and end in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19. Eight games will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., including the U.S. team's opener on June 12 and its group-play final 13 days later.