What is the story about?
What's Happening?
FIFA has initiated the first phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, exclusively for Visa cardholders. The presale draw, which began on September 10, 2025, allows fans to register for a chance to purchase tickets. Despite assurances that the timing of registration does not affect selection chances, many fans experienced long waits and technical errors when attempting to enter the lottery. Approximately 1 million tickets, representing 15% of the total inventory, are available in this phase. The presale is the first of several planned ticket sales phases, with dynamic pricing expected to influence ticket costs.
Why It's Important?
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is anticipated to draw significant global attention and economic activity. The ticketing process, however, has faced criticism due to technical issues and the introduction of dynamic pricing, which could increase costs for popular matches. This situation highlights the challenges of managing large-scale events and the potential impact on fans and local economies. The presale issues may affect public perception of FIFA's organizational capabilities and influence future ticketing strategies.
What's Next?
Following the Visa presale, FIFA plans additional ticket sales phases, including an early ticket draw without Visa requirements and a post-draw lottery phase. Dynamic pricing will likely continue to affect ticket costs, with prices subject to change based on demand. FIFA also intends to launch a resale platform to compete with third-party sites. Fans will have opportunities to purchase tickets through national soccer federations and special sales phases for host country residents. The ticketing process will evolve as FIFA addresses technical challenges and public concerns.
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