On Location reports strong sales of hospitality packages for the 2026 World Cup
FIFA’s official hospitality services provider On Location has reported that sales of premium packages for the 2026 World Cup are recording an exceptionally strong result ahead of the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. According to the company’s announcement, more than 500,000 packages have been sold so far, and sales are continuing through official channels. These are packages that include tickets and additional services, not the classic sale of individual tickets for the general public. In its communications, On Location emphasizes that demand is strong across several offer categories, from individual matches to series that allow buyers to attend multiple encounters. Such a result further confirms the commercial significance of the upcoming tournament, which, according to FIFA’s schedule, will be the largest edition of the World Cup in history.
The largest edition of the tournament and the largest hospitality program
The 2026 World Cup will be the first men’s FIFA World Cup with 48 national teams, and according to FIFA’s official schedule, 104 matches will be played in 16 host cities. The tournament is being held for the first time in three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. The opening is scheduled for June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, while the final, according to FIFA’s schedule, is set for July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium. The increased number of national teams, the higher number of matches and the expansion of hosting to three major markets create a significantly broader commercial framework than previous editions of the competition. FIFA and On Location have used that framework to develop the largest official hospitality program in World Cup history.
Hospitality packages represent a special sales segment intended for buyers who, in addition to a match ticket, want additional services inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. According to information published on On Location’s official website, such packages may include premium seats, access to special lounge areas, food and drink, entertainment programming, host services, faster entry through special security checkpoints and other benefits that depend on the type of package and availability at a particular location. FIFA previously announced that the offer includes several formats, including individual matches, match series at a selected stadium, national team follow programs and private suites. This makes the hospitality segment different from standard ticket sales, because the buyer is not purchasing only a seat in the stadium, but a broader package of services connected with the event.
Sales of more than half a million packages show the depth of demand
The figure of more than 500,000 packages sold is important because it comes before the start of the tournament and at a time when interest in the World Cup is increasing further due to the approach of final preparations. According to On Location’s announcement, sales are continuing, which means that the total number of hospitality arrangements sold is not yet final. Although the company does not provide in the available announcement a complete breakdown of sales by countries, cities or package types, the volume itself indicates strong interest in premium experiences at matches. In the context of a tournament held across great distances and in three different countries, buyers of such packages often plan travel, accommodation and logistics significantly earlier than buyers of standard tickets. For this reason, hospitality sales can also be viewed as an early indicator of the intensity of international demand for the event.
On Location had already presented several levels of offering earlier, and on the official sales page it states that every offer includes premium seats and hospitality content. Among the available formats are packages for one match, Venue Series packages that include multiple matches at one selected stadium, and the Follow My Team format, intended for following a specific national team in the early stage of the competition. According to data available on the official website, certain packages for one match started at 1,350 US dollars per person, Venue Series at 8,275 US dollars, and Follow My Team at 6,750 US dollars, with a note that prices, availability and conditions depend on the market, match and type of package. Such price levels show that this is a premium product, but also that the offer is not limited only to the most expensive private spaces.
FIFA and On Location emphasize official sales channels
In their official announcements, FIFA and On Location particularly emphasize that packages with included tickets are sold exclusively through On Location and officially appointed sales agents. The official hospitality page states that purchasing outside approved channels may mean a risk that tickets or packages will not be valid. This warning has special weight for an event of this size, because high demand regularly opens space for unauthorized sellers, resale and offers presented as official. According to FIFA’s information, the official hospitality program is available through FIFA.com/hospitality and On Location’s connected sales channels, while the list of authorized agents is updated separately. For buyers, the difference between an official package and an unofficial offer is crucial because hospitality arrangements include not only a ticket, but also access to additional areas and services that are checked at the event venue.
Caution regarding official channels is also connected with the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be one of the largest sporting events in history by number of matches and geographical scope. Matches will be played in cities that are thousands of kilometers apart, and fans who want to visit multiple encounters will have to plan transportation, accommodation and possible border crossings between the host countries. In such circumstances, an unauthorized or incomplete offer can create additional financial and logistical problems. FIFA has therefore repeatedly directed buyers toward official sales channels for tickets and hospitality packages. On Location also states in its materials that separate stores for the three host countries exist because of local currencies and payment processing rules.
What hospitality packages include
According to the description on On Location’s official website, hospitality packages for FIFA World Cup 26 are designed as a complete experience that goes beyond standard entry to a match. Depending on the category, buyers may receive access to areas such as the FIFA Pavilion, Champions Club, Trophy Lounge, VIP offering or Pitchside Lounge. These spaces differ by position, level of service and additional content, but they share a combination of premium seating and hospitality offerings. FIFA’s official announcement from July 2025 states that packages may include regionally inspired food and drink, live entertainment, special guests, commemorative gifts and other content. In this way, the program is positioned as part of a broader strategy of turning the match into a several-hour event, not only a 90-minute sporting encounter.
Such an approach reflects broader changes in the industry of major sporting events, in which organizers are increasingly developing products for different audience groups. Some buyers are looking for the most affordable possible entry to the stadium, some want to plan multiple matches in advance, and some are ready to pay for premium service, privacy or a business environment. FIFA and On Location emphasize in their announcements that the program is intended for different buyer profiles, from individual fans and families to corporate guests. In practice, this means that the hospitality segment can increase the tournament’s total revenues, but also create a separate category of experience that differs from a standard fan’s trip to a match. Sales of more than half a million packages show that a large market exists for such a format, especially in North America, where premium sports experiences are already a developed part of the industry.
Commercial significance for the tournament in North America
The 2026 World Cup has exceptional commercial significance for FIFA because it is being held in markets with high purchasing power, developed stadium infrastructure and a strong culture of premium sporting events. In its own materials, On Location highlights its experience in organizing hospitality programs for major competitions and events, including the Olympic Games and the Super Bowl. When appointing On Location as the official hospitality services provider, FIFA stated that the company would have global rights for the promotion, sale and operational delivery of the official hospitality program at all 16 stadiums. Such a model centralizes premium sales and enables FIFA to have greater control over the offer, service standards and communication with buyers. At the same time, organizing the tournament in three countries means that the program must be adapted to different regulatory, currency and operational frameworks.
The strong interest in hospitality packages comes at a time when overall demand for World Cup tickets is being described as exceptionally high. The Associated Press previously reported that FIFA received more than 500 million ticket requests in one of the sales phases, which FIFA presented as a record level of interest. That figure should not be directly equated with the number of tickets sold, but it shows how broad the base of potential buyers is. In such an environment, hospitality packages offer an alternative path to a seat in the stadium for those who are willing to pay a higher price and want additional services. At the same time, the high prices of part of the offer open a broader discussion about the accessibility of major sporting events and the balance between commercial revenues and affordability for fans.
Availability, prices and the broader discussion about accessibility
The prices of hospitality packages are significantly higher than the lowest levels of standard tickets, which is expected given the included additional services. Still, that difference highlights the division between general sales and the premium segment. According to On Location’s official information, starting prices differ depending on the type of package, and some special offers are available only by inquiry, not through direct online purchase. This includes certain private suites, corporate programs and the most exclusive forms of access. Since prices and availability may change, the official sales pages remain the most important source for buyers who want to check current conditions.
The discussion about prices is not limited only to the hospitality segment. Ahead of the tournament, media outlets and fan organizations have repeatedly followed pricing policy, transparency of sales phases and ticket availability. According to The Guardian’s reporting, in May 2026 FIFA was stepping up efforts to sell luxury hospitality tickets after a revenue re-evaluation, while public criticism simultaneously existed regarding transparency and price levels. Such debates are common for global sporting events with high demand, especially when standard tickets, official premium packages and secondary markets are combined. Official data on more than 500,000 hospitality packages sold nevertheless show that the high price has not stopped demand in the premium segment. For organizers, this is an important signal that the market accepts the expanded model of the stadium experience.
Impact on host cities and travel logistics
Hospitality sales also have significance beyond the stadiums themselves because buyers of premium packages often come with a larger total travel budget. Host cities can expect increased demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation, private transfers and additional tourism services. Since the tournament is played in 16 cities, from Vancouver and Toronto to Mexico City, Monterrey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York and other locations, logistics will be one of the key challenges for fans and organizers. FIFA’s schedule provides for group-stage matches, knockout rounds, semifinals and the final to be distributed across the continent. Buyers of series packages, especially those that include multiple locations or following a national team, will have to coordinate travel with the match schedule and possible changes of plans after the progress of teams.
For host cities, the premium segment can bring additional economic value because it includes guests who spend on a broader range of services. At the same time, the large number of travelers increases pressure on capacities, traffic, security procedures and local infrastructure. For this reason, coordination between FIFA, local organizing committees, stadiums, transport operators and city services will be important for the overall visitor experience. In its official materials, On Location states that packages may include expedited entry through special security checkpoints, which is one way of managing the movement of premium guests. However, the overall success of the program will also depend on how the additional services fit into the broader organization of the tournament.
Sales continue ahead of the start of the tournament
On Location’s report of more than 500,000 packages sold confirms that the premium market for FIFA World Cup 26 has already reached a high level before the first match. For FIFA, this is a sign of the tournament’s strong commercial position, and for the sports hospitality industry, confirmation that events of global reach can attract a large number of buyers who are looking for more than a standard ticket. At the same time, official announcements emphasize that purchases should be made exclusively through verified channels, because the validity of tickets and access to hospitality areas will depend on official systems. As the tournament approaches, further updates are expected regarding package availability, prices and operational details by host city. Until the competition begins on June 11, 2026, hospitality sales will remain one of the important indicators of market interest in the largest World Cup to date.
Sources:
- On Location / Yahoo Finance – announcement on strong sales of FIFA World Cup 2026 hospitality packages and more than 500,000 packages sold (link)
- FIFA – official announcement on the availability of hospitality packages in all host countries and description of the program (link)
- On Location – official hospitality sales page with package types, starting prices and warning about official purchase channels (link)
- FIFA – official FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule with information on 104 matches, 48 national teams and host cities (link)
- Associated Press – report on record demand and more than 500 million ticket requests in one sales phase (link)
- The Guardian – reporting on sales of luxury hospitality tickets, revenues and the pricing debate (link)