Gianni Infantino stated that the 2026 World Cup achieved full sell out status for its 104 matches. He made the declaration during an interview with CNBC on Wednesday. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, begins on June 11 and concludes on July 19.
Massive Request Numbers
Infantino revealed that fans submitted 508 million ticket requests within four weeks. These requests targeted about seven million available tickets. He noted that applicants came from more than 200 countries. “We’ve never seen anything like that – incredible,” Infantino said. The main sales phase occurred in January through a random selection draw process.
High Demand Across Matches
“The demand is there. Every match is sold out,” Infantino emphasized. However FIFA retained some tickets for the last minute sales phase. This phase starts in April and continues until the tournament ends. Fans can purchase remaining inventory on a first come, first served basis via official channels.
Context of Sales Process
Earlier reports highlighted over 500 million requests during the application period that closed in January. FIFA validated each request with unique credit card data. Successful applicants received notifications starting in early February.
The overwhelming interest forced a draw allocation for many matches. Infantino previously described the demand as equivalent to “1,000 years of World Cups” requests in a short time.
Implications for Fans
The sell out status reflects global excitement for the expanded 48-team format. Some tickets appeared on resale platforms at higher prices. FIFA allows resale in certain markets and charges commissions on its official platform. Fans who missed earlier phases still have opportunities through the upcoming last minute window.
