World Cup 2026 tickets back on sale as FIFA opens surprise 48-hour window

FIFA has reopened a limited batch of FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets, giving some previously unsuccessful fans an unexpected second chance to secure seats.

The surprise move comes after the Random Selection Draw ran from December 11 to January 13, when global demand for the expanded tournament surged. Fans who entered the lottery began receiving notifications from February 5 if they had been successful.

Many who missed out expected to wait until April, when tickets are due to go on general sale.

Instead, select applicants this week received emails from FIFA granting access to an exclusive 48-hour purchase window for single-match tickets.

In a statement to USA TODAY Sports, FIFA confirmed the limited release and explained the reasoning behind the early opportunity.

“FIFA can confirm that a limited number of additional single-match tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have become available following the conclusion of the Random Selection Draw,” the organisation said.

FIFA added that the time-limited window is designed to maximise fairness while prioritising fans who had already shown strong interest in the tournament.

Access is being provided directly through official FIFA ticketing accounts, with tickets allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to household limits and standard ticketing terms.

Demand for the 2026 tournament has been unprecedented. FIFA revealed it received more than 500 million ticket requests during the lottery phase alone, underlining the massive global appetite for the expanded competition.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and will run through July 19, when the final is scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The upcoming edition will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The United States will host the bulk of the tournament, staging 78 matches.

With the next public sales phase still weeks away, the surprise ticket drop is likely to intensify the scramble among fans hoping to secure seats for football’s biggest event.