FIFA President Gianni Infantino says demand for tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already soaring, with more than one million requests submitted for each of 77 matches scheduled to be played across North America.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July 2026, is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events in history. It will feature an expanded format of 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup ever staged.
Infantino made the announcement while attending the World Liberty Forum at former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. He was seen wearing a USA baseball cap bearing the numbers 45 and 47, referencing Trump’s two presidential terms. The event drew business executives, lawmakers and celebrities, including Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and music star Nicki Minaj.
Speaking to CNBC after the forum, Infantino defended FIFA’s ticketing strategy, which has faced criticism over rising prices. Some political leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have questioned the pricing approach, describing it as excessive.
“Demand is there,” Infantino said. “We have 104 matches in total, and 77 have received requests for over one million tickets each. Every match is already sold out.”
However, FIFA sources later clarified that while interest has been exceptionally high, some tickets are being held back for later sales phases. The organization maintains that it expects all matches to eventually sell out.
Buoyed by the unprecedented demand, Infantino projected that FIFA’s revenues from the tournament could exceed $11 billion. He also estimated the event could generate up to $30 billion in economic impact for the United States, though such projections are often treated cautiously by analysts due to the complexities of measuring large-scale sporting event benefits.
According to Infantino, ticket requests have come from more than 200 countries, underscoring the tournament’s global appeal. He noted that fans are eager to be part of what he described as a unifying and positive global experience.
His comments also come amid renewed scrutiny over FIFA’s governance. Advocacy group FairSquare has filed a complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, raising concerns about the organization’s political neutrality and citing Infantino’s past engagements with Trump.
As preparations continue, the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be not only a major sporting spectacle but also a focal point for debate over economics, politics and the future direction of world football.
