How to Buy Tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By Jonathan Zavaleta

Jonathan Zavaleta

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Following FIFA’s protracted random draw process, general sale tickets for the 2026 men’s World Cup officially went on sale on Wednesday (April 1). While the random draw required registering online, the general sale, which FIFA calls the “Last-Minute Sales Phase,” is more straightforward — at least in theory. Football fans can expect very long wait times in the queue for the general sale on FIFA’s website. FIFA’s own resale marketplace, meanwhile, reopens on April 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Unsurprisingly, you can expect ticket prices to vary by fixture; contenders like Argentina, Spain, and Germany will fetch high prices, as will games for the host countries, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Who’s in the World Cup?

The group stages are now fully formalized, with host countries Mexico, Canada, and the United States split into groups A, B, and D, respectively. Some of the toughest groups include Group I, which includes France and Norway, and Group H, including Spain and Uruguay. Despite being one of the most successful teams in World Cup history, Italy yet again failed to qualify for the World Cup, its third missed tournament in a row.

Some of soccer’s most iconic players may be facing their last tournament. The 39-year-old Lionel Messi led Argentina to a stunning win in 2022, and the team are serious contenders yet again. This may also be the last best opportunity for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 41 years old. The 27-year-old French superstar Kylian Mbappé will yet again be a player to watch, having led France to the finals in the last two World Cups.

Host cities in the U.S. will include Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York/New Jersey.

Ticket Resale

If you don’t want to wait for the FIFA resale, consider checking out third-party resellers. There’s always a risk with third-party resale, but sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats have policies in place to protect fans if they don’t get into the venue. Ticket prices often drop closer to the start of each game, although there’s always a chance the seats you want will sell out.

StubHub

Prices vary considerably by game. Tickets for the U.S. vs. Paraguay game start at around $1,500, while stubs for Iran vs. New Zealand, meanwhile, start at around $300.

SeatGeek

The cheapest tickets for the Austria vs. Jordan game, taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, start at around $250. Canada’s group stage home match at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina starts at $1,627.

VividSeats

Vivid Seats currently lists the Austria vs. Jordan game at around $235 on the low end. On the high end, the to-be-determined final starts at $8,542.

FIFA World Cup Schedule

The schedule for the World Cup runs from June 11 – July 19, with the group stage running through June 27. The July 19 final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Group stage: June 11 – June 27 Round of 32: June 28 – July 3 Round of 16: July 4 – July 7 Quarterfinals: July 9 – July 11 Semifinals: July 14 – July 15 Finals: July 18 – July 19