CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – FIFA announced on Wednesday that it has received over 500 million ticket requests for this year's World Cup, which will take place in the host nations of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The organizing body indicated that among fans residing outside the host countries, the highest numbers of requests came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia. This indicates a strong global interest in the tournament, with fans eager to secure their place at one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world.
In response to criticism regarding exorbitant ticket prices, FIFA stated in a previous announcement that it would offer tickets priced at $60 for every game. These tickets will be allocated to the 48 national federations participating in the tournament, which will then decide how to distribute them to fans who attended their previous matches. This move is seen as an effort to make the event more accessible to a broader audience.
During the latest ticket sales phase, which ran from December 11 through January 3, the most requested match was Colombia vs. Portugal, scheduled for June 27 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Following closely were other sought-after matches, including Mexico vs. South Korea on June 18 in Guadalajara, Mexico, the final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City. Additionally, a second-round match on July 2 is scheduled to take place in Toronto.
FIFA has indicated that it will begin notifying ticket applicants no earlier than February 5. Due to the overwhelming demand for certain matches, tickets will be allocated using a random selection process when demand exceeds the number of available tickets. This approach aims to ensure a fair distribution among all applicants, given the high level of interest in specific matches.
The unprecedented level of ticket requests illustrates the excitement and anticipation surrounding the World Cup, which is set to showcase some of the best soccer talent from around the globe. With the tournament rapidly approaching, fans are left eagerly awaiting updates regarding their ticket applications and the overall experience that awaits them in the host cities.
