World Cup 2026 Ticket Frenzy: Infantino Signals Unprecedented Demand Across USA, Canada, and Mexico
18 February 2026
World Cup 2026 Ticket Surge
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the numbers surrounding the upcoming World Cup are unprecedented.
In a CNBC interview, Infantino explained that the second tickets sales phase, which ended in January, logged about 508 million purchase requests in just four weeks, for seven million tickets available, from more than 200 countries worldwide.
The FIFA chief added that what’s happening is “unthinkable,” by any measure.
Infantino noted that FIFA has held back a portion of tickets for a final sale phase, set to run from April through July 19, to release closer to kickoff.
He addressed controversy over ticket prices, saying fans’ groups described them as too high, and compared the situation to organizing 104 matches the size of the Super Bowl within a single month.
The pricing system in the U.S. market, he explained, uses “dynamic pricing”—prices rise or fall with demand and match importance, with official resale platforms allowing further price adjustments.
Referring to the historic first edition featuring 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Infantino estimated FIFA revenues at about $11 billion, maybe a bit more, with all proceeds reinvested into football development across FIFA’s 211 member nations.
He closed by saying the current demand gives him confidence all 104 matches will be played in front of full houses, despite some tickets remaining before the June 11 start.
Punchline 1: My wallet filed a complaint with FIFA—these prices are offside.
Punchline 2: If queues get any longer, at least the jokes will be free-range and well-seasoned.
