ol! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming, the largest tournament to date – with 48 teams and 3 host countries.
If you are looking to compete (or a few times) during the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico, then now is your chance. The first round of ticket sales have begun – a little bit.
Thanks to FIFA’s partnership with Visa, the first ticket is only available for Visa Carddolder. Here is everything you need to know during this period and in the future during ticket drops.
Related: Best Visa Credit Card
How to get tickets during visa presale
Fans can already purchase the 2026 World Cup hosting package on the FIFA website, which includes tickets to the competition. However, buying tickets alone is even more complicated.
The first phase of the ticket purchase is visa pre-sale, which will be open on Wednesday, September 10.
You ask why it is called a “sweepstakes” rather than a “sell”? Because if you “win” the draw, you will have the opportunity to buy tickets later – although tickets are not guaranteed to be available during the allotted time period.
The draw will end on Friday, September 19 at 11:00 a.m. ET. The days and times you enter the lottery will not affect your chances of success, so don’t worry about rushing to FIFA’s website right away.
According to the website, “In order to enter a draw, you must be a cardholder (primary or minor), have a valid, unexpired visa debit card, credit card or reloadable prepayment card with 3D secure prepayment.”
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Unfortunately, holding the right card is just the first of many basketballs you have to skip in this round.
First, go to this page and click Learn More under Tickets.
You will then be asked to fill out the verification code and you will be added to the queue to enter the lottery. Yes, you have to wait in line to put your name in the virtual hat so that you can win Chance Buy tickets.
Make sure to register your FIFA ID here while you wait (or before entering the draw). When you need to enter the lottery, you will need it (and your qualified visa card).
Several TPGERs tried to enter and the results were mixed. Some people have a timeout in the queue. After about an hour and a half I finished it through the queue and then signed with my FIFA ID to find the error message. A lucky editor managed to actually enter the lottery through her visa card information.
After the draw ends on September 19, the random selection process will determine who has the opportunity to purchase tickets in the first phase. If successful, you will notify you by email on or after September 29 and will provide you with a date and time slot starting October 1.
In this round of sales, single-match tickets for all 104 World Cup games will be available, with the group face-to-face ticket price of US$60. You can also purchase tickets for specific venues and specific teams (i.e., all competitions for specific venues or teams).
Related: Visa Infinite: Everything You Need to Know, From Taxi Privileges to Lounge Access
What if I don’t have a visa card or fail to succeed in the lottery?
Since FIFA predicted high demand (according to our experience trying to get into pre-sales), they decided to release tickets in phases. If for any reason you can’t get tickets during the pre-sale period, you’ll have the chance to get tickets at a later stage:
- The 2nd phase draw will run like a pre-sale (except for no visa card required). The registration window is scheduled from October 27 to 31.
- The third phase of the random selection draw will begin shortly after the final match of the game on December 5, which will reveal most group matches. Fans will be able to submit apps for specific matches.
- Closer to the game, any remaining inventory will be available on a first come first served basis.
FIFA also plans to launch the official resale platform for the 2026 World Cup later this year, potentially offering another way to get tickets.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Sports Fans
Bottom line
If FIFA’s complex ticketing process and glitchy websites seem to be attracting the joy of beautiful games, don’t despair. You must enter visa pre-sales by September 19 (if you have a qualifying card) and there will be more opportunities to get tickets in the coming months.
To keep the World Cup ticketing phase up to date, make sure to register your interests and create a FIFA ID on FIFA.com/tickets.
