Fans seeking tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup faced significant disruption on Wednesday after technical problems affected the latest phase of sales, launched shortly after the governing body confirmed the final list of qualified teams.
Supporters attempting to purchase seats reported long waiting times and system errors during the opening hours of what FIFA had described as a “last minute sales phase”, which began at 11:00 Eastern Time.
Instead of being able to buy tickets directly, many users found themselves redirected to a separate waiting list linked to a different category of sales intended for supporters of newly qualified teams. The unexpected diversion led to confusion among fans, many of whom had logged on expecting immediate access to available tickets.
The difficulties were exacerbated by extended delays. Some users who joined the online queue at the start of the sales window said they waited up to 90 minutes before being able to proceed, raising concerns about whether FIFA’s platform was capable of coping with demand for what is set to be the largest World Cup in history.
FIFA did not immediately provide a detailed explanation for the disruption. However, later in the day, the organisation stated that the issue had been resolved and that the ticketing system was operating normally.
The latest release represents the fifth phase of ticket sales for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July. FIFA has confirmed that not all remaining tickets for the 104 matches have been made available at this stage, with further batches expected to be released in the coming months.
Previous sales phases have included pre-sales for Visa cardholders in September, an early draw in October, a random allocation period spanning December 2025 to January 2026, and a limited 48-hour sales window in February.
This phase introduces a new feature allowing supporters to select specific seats for matches, rather than applying within general ticket categories as in earlier rounds.
FIFA is also continuing to use a dynamic pricing model, with ticket costs varying depending on demand and the significance of individual fixtures. During an earlier sales period, prices ranged from $140 to as much as $8,680.
The tournament will be staged across 16 host cities, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada, and will feature an expanded format of 48 teams.
“The stage is set for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup! The line-up for the @FIFAWorldCup 2026™ has been completed with six teams clinching the remaining places among the 48 that will make the upcoming tournament in North America the most inclusive ever.”
Following criticism over ticket pricing, FIFA has also announced that each participating national association will receive an allocation of $60 tickets intended for loyal supporters. Between 400 and 700 of these tickets are expected to be distributed per match.
In addition, FIFA operates an official resale platform, charging a 15% commission to both buyers and sellers.
