FIFA said Wednesday it has received more than 500 million ticket requests for this year’s World Cup, underlining massive global demand for the tournament despite growing criticism over high ticket prices.

In a statement, FIFA said fans from all 211 member nations and territories applied during the first ticket lottery window, which closed Tuesday. Applicants will be informed whether their requests were successful no earlier than Feb. 5.

The expanded 48-team tournament will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Outside the host countries, FIFA said the strongest demand came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia. The most requested match was Colombia’s group-stage game against Portugal in Miami on June 27, followed by Mexico’s match against South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, and the final in New Jersey on July 19.

“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand — it’s a global statement,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “Knowing how much this tournament means to people around the world, our only regret is that we cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums.”

The record interest comes as FIFA faces mounting criticism over its ticket pricing strategy. Supporter groups have described prices for the 2026 tournament as excessively high, warning they could exclude large numbers of fans.

Football Supporters Europe said ticket prices are nearly five times higher than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, branding the costs “extortionate” and “astronomical.”
In response to the backlash, FIFA introduced a new category of lower-priced tickets in December, priced at $60, aimed at making the tournament more accessible.

Despite the controversy, the unprecedented volume of applications highlights the World Cup’s continued appeal as the world’s most-watched sporting event, with demand once again far exceeding stadium capacity.