FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that all 104 fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are expected to be completely filled, citing a historic surge in ticket demand. Speaking in an interview with CNBC from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Infantino revealed that interest in the upcoming tournament has already shattered previous records.
Half a Billion Requests for Seven Million Seats
Despite tickets still being available in various sales phases, Infantino declared that the “demand is there” and that every match is essentially sold out based on application volumes. Within a mere four-week period, FIFA received a staggering 508 million ticket requests for approximately seven million available seats.
During the primary sales window in January 2026, applications poured in from over 200 countries. “(We’ve) never seen anything like that — incredible,” Infantino remarked, noting the global scale of the excitement for the first-ever 48-team edition of the tournament.
The April Sales Phase and Dynamic Pricing
To ensure accessibility for late-arriving fans, Infantino confirmed that FIFA has deliberately held back a portion of tickets for a final sales phase. This phase is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and will remain open until the tournament concludes on July 19.
Addressing widespread concerns regarding “exorbitant” ticket prices and high resale values, the FIFA chief pointed to the unique nature of the North American market:
- Dynamic Pricing: Infantino explained that prices in the U.S. are subject to market forces, meaning they fluctuate based on demand.
- Secondary Markets: He acknowledged that official resale platforms and secondary markets naturally drive prices upward due to the “something special” nature of the event in America, Canada, and Mexico.
Economic Impact: $30 Billion for the U.S.
The 2026 World Cup is projected to be a massive financial success for both FIFA and the host nations.
- FIFA Revenue: The tournament is expected to generate more than $11 billion, funds which Infantino says will be reinvested into football development across all 211 member associations.
- U.S. Economy: Infantino projected a $30 billion economic boost for the United States, driven by a surge in tourism, hospitality, security, and infrastructure investments.
- Tourism and Jobs: Beyond the seven million match attendees, the tournament is expected to attract between 20 and 30 million visitors to the region and create approximately 185,000 full-time jobs.
“It’s a big impact,” Infantino said. “I hope this impact will not just be limited to the World Cup but for the future as well.”
Summary of Key Metrics:
- Total Fixtures: 104 matches.
- Ticket Requests: 508 million in four weeks.
- Total Seats: ~7 million.
- Next Sales Phase: April 2026.
- Projected US Economic Impact: $30 Billion.
Source: CNBC
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