Ticket sales tracking shows strong demand ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Less than three weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, data from the specialized portal Ticketdata.com, published on May 25 by The Sports Examiner, point to very limited ticket availability on FIFA’s official sales channel. According to that publication, 93 of the total 104 matches had fewer than 1,000 available tickets in direct FIFA sales, while only 11 matches were above that threshold. This figure does not necessarily mean that the stadiums are sold out, nor that there will be no additional allocations or tickets through the official resale market, but it shows that the largest part of the supply ahead of the final sales phase has already been absorbed. The same report states that 21 matches had practically negligible availability, and another 26 fixtures had fewer than 100 available tickets.
The 2026 World Cup will be played from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. FIFA states in the official schedule that this will be the first edition with 48 national teams and 104 matches, making it the largest tournament in the history of the competition. A larger number of national teams, a wider geographical area and a schedule across 16 host cities create a different demand dynamic than at previous World Cups. Fan interest depends not only on the strength of the national teams, but also on location, travel availability, accommodation prices, the local diaspora, the opponent, the match time and the competition phase.
Only 11 matches above the threshold of one thousand available tickets
According to the data reported by The Sports Examiner, among the matches with more than 1,000 available tickets at FIFA’s direct sales point, the match between Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire in Philadelphia on June 25 stood out the most, with 3,472 tickets shown. Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston on June 26 followed with 2,908 tickets, the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta on June 18 with 2,626 tickets, and Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12 with 2,425 tickets. The list of matches with somewhat greater availability also included Jordan against Algeria in Santa Clara, the USA against Paraguay in Inglewood, Uzbekistan against DR Congo in Atlanta and Austria against Jordan in Santa Clara.
Such data require careful interpretation. The Sports Examiner explicitly states that the number of tickets displayed on FIFA’s channel is not the same as final stadium occupancy, because it does not include all resale offers, possible later allocations, sponsor and organizational allocations, or tickets that were not offered to the public at the time of tracking. Still, when the number of matches with fewer than 1,000 available seats is compared with the number of fixtures with almost no availability, the trend points to strong overall demand. This is especially important because the 2026 tournament has a significantly larger number of matches than previous editions, so in theory a greater dispersion of interest would also be expected.
FIFA states on its official ticketing page that sales in the final phase are available subject to availability and that there is also an official market for ticket resale or exchange. According to FIFA’s information, residents of most countries can resell tickets through the official system, while for residents of Mexico the possibility of exchange is mentioned. The organizer also emphasizes that hospitality packages are a separate product that includes a ticket and additional services on match day. Because of this, the overall picture of availability can change from day to day, especially as travel approaches, resale deadlines and final logistical adjustments draw near.
The lowest “get-in” prices are concentrated around less sought-after fixtures
A particularly interesting part of the report concerns the so-called “get-in” prices, that is, the lowest available ticket prices on the secondary market for an individual match. According to The Sports Examiner, the lowest displayed prices on resale platforms showed that only four matches were below 200 US dollars. The lowest threshold was listed for the match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston on June 26, with a starting price of 178 dollars. Jordan against Algeria in Santa Clara was listed at 182 dollars, Austria against Jordan at 187 dollars, and Uzbekistan against DR Congo in Atlanta at 196 dollars.
The group of the ten cheapest matches according to the lowest available resale price also included Bosnia and Herzegovina against Qatar in Seattle, Algeria against Austria in Kansas City, the Czech Republic against South Africa in Atlanta, Egypt against Iran in Seattle, Iran against New Zealand in Inglewood and Curaçao against Côte d’Ivoire in Philadelphia. These examples show that a low “get-in” price often overlaps with matches for which more tickets remained in direct sales, but the connection is not automatic. The price is also shaped by travel costs, the size of the local fan base, the attractiveness of the host city, the expected competitive importance of the match and the reputation of the national teams.
It should be emphasized that the “get-in” price is not the average price of all tickets, but the lowest available entry point on a given market at a given moment. It can rise or fall quickly, especially if supply changes on the official or secondary market. At major sporting events, the lowest resale price often reflects a combination of demand and the sales strategy of ticket holders, not only the real popularity of a national team. Therefore, such data can be used as a market signal, but not as a final assessment of the expected atmosphere in the stadium.
Iran at the bottom of the ranking by average lowest price
The data point that attracted the most attention was that Iran, according to the average “get-in” price for its national team’s matches, was at the bottom of the ranking among tournament participants. The Sports Examiner states that Iran’s average lowest price was 267 dollars. The same report highlighted that the highest average “get-in” prices were recorded for Mexico’s matches, with an average of 1,704 dollars, Brazil with 1,326 dollars, Portugal with 1,322 dollars, Colombia with 1,267 dollars and Scotland with 969 dollars. The United States of America, one of the tournament hosts, was listed in eighth place with an average of 896 dollars.
Such a difference cannot be reduced only to the sporting reputation of the national teams. Mexico has an exceptionally strong domestic and expatriate fan base in North America, and matches involving the host generally carry additional demand. Brazil and Portugal have globally recognizable football brands, while Colombia and Scotland can also count on strong fan support and high travel motivation. In Iran’s case, the average lowest price is probably the result of a combination of sporting, market, geopolitical and logistical context, including travel, visa circumstances, the match schedule and the size of the buyer base actively participating in the secondary market.
In FIFA’s official schedule, Iran is listed in Group G, where it plays against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. The Belgium-Iran match is scheduled for June 21 in Los Angeles, the Egypt-Iran match for June 26 in Seattle, and the New Zealand-Iran match for June 15 in Inglewood. The Iran matches against Egypt and New Zealand were precisely among the cheaper fixtures according to the lowest resale price data reported by The Sports Examiner. This does not mean that there will be no significant interest in those matches, but that at the observed moment the market entry threshold was lower than for most other fixtures.
The final and attractive matches carry many times higher prices
At the opposite end of the ranking are the matches with the highest lowest prices on the secondary market. According to The Sports Examiner, the most expensive “get-in” threshold was for the final match on July 19 in East Rutherford, at 7,982 dollars. Among the highest prices listed were also Colombia against Portugal in Miami Gardens on June 27, the semifinals in Dallas and Atlanta, Mexico against South Korea in Guadalajara and Mexico’s opener against South Africa in Mexico City. Later knockout matches in Miami Gardens and Kansas City also appeared near the top, as did the Scotland-Brazil match in Miami Gardens.
Such a price distribution is expected for a tournament of this size. The World Cup final is traditionally the most expensive match, because it is sought by neutral spectators, corporate buyers, fans of national teams that are not yet known and travelers who want to attend the finale regardless of the participants. High prices for Mexico’s matches can additionally be explained by host status and the historical significance of appearances in Mexico. Miami Gardens and the wider South Florida area have a large international audience and a strong football community, which can increase demand for attractive groups and knockout fixtures.
FIFA’s official schedule confirms that the final will be played on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium, while the semifinals will be played on July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta. The third-place match is scheduled for July 18 in Miami. The knockout phase, including the new round of 32, begins on June 28, giving the tournament an additional competitive layer compared with the 32-team format. More matches in the final stage mean more sales opportunities, but also greater competition among host cities for travelers choosing where to spend their money.
What the data mean for host cities and fans
The Sports Examiner emphasizes in its analysis that ticket sales alone are not sufficient to assess the overall effect of the tournament on host cities. Actual economic results will depend on the number of out-of-town travelers, especially international visitors, who will book accommodation, use local transport, eat in restaurants and spend in local shops. In that sense, a match with high ticket prices does not automatically have to bring the greatest local benefit if most of the audience consists of local residents or if visitors stay only briefly. On the other hand, a match with lower prices can have a significant effect if it attracts a larger number of guests who travel and stay for several days.
For fans, the key difference is between official sales, the official FIFA resale market and secondary platforms that are not part of the organizer’s system. FIFA emphasizes in its instructions that tickets in every sales phase are subject to availability and applicable terms. The official channel is also the most important for reducing the risk of invalid tickets, excessive fees or fraud. As the tournament approaches, the market will probably continue to change because some buyers will give up on travel, some fans will wait for plans to unfold, and the organizer may eventually open additional possibilities through the official system.
The data on limited availability show that interest in the 2026 World Cup is already very strong, despite the expanded format and large number of matches. At the same time, differences in “get-in” prices reveal how much the market distinguishes matches by national teams, cities and competition phases. The lowest prices connected with individual matches involving Iran, Jordan, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan or DR Congo speak not only about football appeal, but also about the geography of the tournament, fans’ purchasing power, travel barriers and the way the secondary market is formed. In the final weeks before the start of the championship, it will be precisely ticket availability, accommodation prices and transport logistics that show how much strong early demand turns into real fan presence in the stadiums.
Sources:
- The Sports Examiner – analysis of Ticketdata.com data on ticket availability and “get-in” prices for the 2026 World Cup (link)
- FIFA – official ticketing page for the FIFA World Cup 2026, including final sales, the official market and hospitality offer (link)
- FIFA – official information on ticket sales phases for the FIFA World Cup 2026 (link)
- FIFA – official match schedule, stadiums and dates of the 2026 World Cup (link)