The World Cup is more than a tournament: it is a passport stamp in motion. And for football-obsessed globetrotters (or American football-obsessed, depending on where you come from), it can be a 90-minute crescendo in the middle of a week wandering through new cities, flavors and cultures.
In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time in three countries (Canada, the United States and Mexico), making North America a vast and exciting venue 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 a sunset skyline or a post-game mezcal at a hidden rooftop bar. But how do you get in? Where do you get the tickets? And once you have them, how do you turn a soccer game 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 at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. It’s a fitting place to start: a cathedral of football history, set in a city brimming with art, energy and a culinary scene that could rival the grandeur of the tournament. Over the next month, 48 teams will compete across North America in the largest World Cup to date. After 104 matches, the tournament will conclude on Sunday, July 19, 2026; The final game will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a short train ride from Manhattan.
When do tickets go on sale and how can I get them?
Ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on September 10, 2025, launching what is expected to be the most sought-after ticketing event in sports of all time. The first phase of sales was available to Visa cardholders, who registered for a FIFA Ticket Account and applied for it through a random draw. Those selected received email notifications granting them a purchasing window in October. Of the 4.5 million applicants worldwide, only a fraction had the first opportunity to buy, but millions more are already preparing for the next opportunity.
The first rounds of public sales extend into the fall and begin with a lottery-style drawing that ends on October 31. A second phase of the lottery, called the early ticket drawing, opens in early November and continues with purchase slots through early December. The final phase of random selection begins after the World Cup draw on December 5, when the full match schedule will be revealed. (So far, less than half of the 48 teams have qualified, meaning that aside from the host nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico, no one knows where or when they will play.) Sales will switch 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 top-deck views. Prices start around $60 for group matches and go up to $6,730 for the final, with dynamic pricing ensuring costs fluctuate based on demand. For fans looking for 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.
