Football fans around the world have been handed a final opportunity to secure seats for the biggest tournament in the sport, as FIFA has launched the last-minute sales phase for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will feature an expanded format of 48 teams the largest in the competition’s history.
The final sales window opens on Wednesday, 1 April at 11:00 Eastern Time (17:00 CET) and will remain active until the conclusion of the tournament. Unlike earlier phases, tickets in this stage will be sold strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, giving fans one last chance to attend matches if seats remain available.
FIFA indicated that tickets will be released on a rolling basis throughout the period. Supporters are therefore encouraged to check the official ticketing platform frequently, as seats that were previously unavailable may be returned to the pool. In some cases, same-day match tickets could also become available, depending on demand and stadium capacity.
In addition, FIFA will reopen its official Resale and Exchange Marketplace on Thursday, 2 April. This platform allows verified ticket holders who can no longer attend to resell their tickets securely to other fans. The organisation stresses that this system is the safest way to obtain resale tickets, as it operates under national and local regulations and helps prevent fraud associated with unofficial sellers.
Demand for the 2026 tournament has been exceptionally high. During the earlier random selection draw phase, more than 500 million ticket requests were submitted, with over one million tickets sold by late February. With fewer than three months to kickoff, FIFA expects attendance to surpass the historic record of 3.5 million spectators set during the 1994 tournament.
However, officials are reminding supporters that purchasing a match ticket does not automatically guarantee entry into any of the host countries. International fans must still meet visa and entry requirements for Canada, Mexico or the United States and are advised to begin travel arrangements early. For those travelling to the United States, eligible ticket holders may use FIFA’s Priority Appointment Scheduling System to facilitate visa appointments.
