The World Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a passport stamp in motion. And for soccer-obsessed globe-trotters (or football-obsessed, depending where you hail from), it can be a 90-minute crescendo in the middle of a week spent wandering through new cities, flavors, and cultures.
In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will unfold across three countries for the first time—Canada, the United States, and Mexico—turning North America into one sprawling, exhilarating stage for the world’s most beloved sport. It’s the ultimate ticket to adventure for travelers who crave the pulse of a crowd as much as they do a skyline at sunset or a post-match mezcal in a hidden rooftop bar. But how do you get in? Where do you get tickets? And once you have them, how do you turn a soccer match into the trip of a lifetime? Let’s break it all down, one question at a time.
When is the FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with the opening match taking place at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca. It’s a fitting place to start—a cathedral of soccer history, nestled in a city brimming with art, energy, and a culinary scene that could rival the tournament’s grandeur. Over the following month, 48 teams will compete across North America in the biggest World Cup to date. After 104 matches, the tournament will conclude on Sunday, July 19, 2026; the final match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just a short train ride from Manhattan.
When do tickets go on sale, and how can I get them?
Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially began on September 10, 2025, launching what’s expected to be the most sought-after ticketing event in sports of all time. The first phase of sales was accessible to Visa cardholders, who registered for a FIFA Ticketing Account and applied through a random draw. Those selected received email notifications granting them a purchase window in October. Out of 4.5 million applicants worldwide, only a fraction had the first chance to buy, but millions more are already preparing for the next opportunity.
The early rounds of public sales run through the fall, beginning with a lottery-style draw that closes on October 31. A second lottery phase, called the early ticket draw, opens in early November, and continues with purchase time slots through early December. The final random selection phase begins after the World Cup draw, on December 5, when the full match schedule will be revealed. (As of now, fewer than half of the 48 teams have qualified, meaning that aside from the host nations of United States, Canada, and Mexico, no one knows where—or when—they’ll be playing.) Sales will shift to a first-come, first-served format in spring 2026.
Tickets are divided into four categories, ranging from the best seats in the stadium to upper-deck views. Prices start around $60 for group-stage matches and reach as high as $6,730 for the final, with dynamic pricing ensuring that costs fluctuate based on demand. For fans seeking flexibility, FIFA will open an official resale platform closer to the tournament. Tickets can also be purchased now through verified resellers like StubHub and SeatGeek.
