(NEXSTAR) – The beautiful game is coming to the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 2026 and millions of fans from around the world will be looking to get their hands on tickets to watch the best players in the world.

But with 6.5 million fans expected to attend and millions more registered online, securing your spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not be as simple as logging in to your preferred ticket retailer.

According to FIFA, the best way to stay up to date with ticket release dates is by registering your interest on their website. There, you will be prompted to create a FIFA ID, which is needed to apply for and purchase tickets when the time comes.

Lottery

Tickets for the tournament will be released in several phases, with the first batch of tickets going on sale on Sept. 10.

When phase one begins, a selection of registered fans will be able to apply for a random time slot to purchase tickets.

Much like leading up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first phase of ticket sales will happen before the end of World Cup qualification, meaning you won’t know who will be playing in the games you buy tickets to in this phase.

A later phase will take place after the official draw has taken place and each qualified team has been placed into a group, giving ticket buyers in that phase a chance to see who will be playing where.

Right To Buy

If you don’t want to test your luck with the lottery process, FIFA has provided a way to guarantee your chance at buying tickets with Right To Buy (RTB) digital assets on FIFA Collect.

There are multiple ways to earn RTBs:

• Purchase Glory Packs – includes one RTB for a match in a specific host city
• Complete challenges – using digital collectibles, complete designated challenges to win RTBs as a reward
• Purchase Surprise Packs – packs of digital collectibles that have a chance at having an RTB inside
• Purchase via the Marketplace – other collectors who have earned RTB can resell them

Glory packs are limited and if they sell out, they could be found on the FIFA Collect marketplace for a markup.

Completing challenges and purchasing surprise packs requires an additional investment.

This route also requires some knowledge of digital assets and currencies.

Hospitality/Travel Packages

In 2025, FIFA released hospitality packages for those looking for a premium experience, including VIP lounges, food and drink. Those packages start at $1,350 per person for single matches but, depending on the team, venue and stage of the competition, could cost several tens of thousands of dollars.

Certain verified retailers and travel agencies also offer packages that include anything from flights, lodging, transportation, etc., in addition to entry to the game.

Third-Party Ticket Retailers

FIFA is keen on keeping its tickets on its own platform, even when it comes to reselling. If someone who purchased tickets is unable to attend a match, they can resell them on the FIFA ticket website. Using third-party resellers could be risky, as it requires the seller to send you the ticket outside of their platform, opening the possibility of fraud.

The same goes for purchasing tickets outside of the stadium on match day.