Are World Cup 2026 Tickets Already Selling Now? A Deep Dive
The internet is buzzing with excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and with that excitement comes a lot of questions. The most common one we see is: "Are World Cup 2026 tickets already selling now?"
The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might think. While you can't yet buy a standard ticket for a specific match, there are a few ways that you can secure your spot at the tournament. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know about the current state of World Cup 2026 ticket sales.
What's Being Sold Now by FIFA: The Hospitality Package
If you've seen advertisements for World Cup 2026 tickets, you've likely seen the hospitality packages. These are the only tickets that are currently being sold directly by FIFA.
But what exactly is a hospitality package? It's much more than just a ticket to the match. It's a premium experience that includes:
- A guaranteed ticket to the match
- Access to an exclusive lounge
- Gourmet food and drinks
- Guest appearances by football legends
- Other premium benefits
As you can imagine, these packages are not cheap. They can range in price from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the match and the level of hospitality.
Who should buy a hospitality package?
Hospitality packages are a great option for fans who want a guaranteed, all-inclusive luxury experience. They're also a good choice for corporate groups who want to entertain clients at the tournament.
If you're on a budget, however, a hospitality package is probably not the right choice for you. You'll be better off waiting for the general ticket lottery, which we'll discuss in more detail below.
FIFA Collect and the Right to Buy (RTB) Program
Another way that some fans are securing their tickets is through the FIFA Collect platform. FIFA Collect is a new platform that allows fans to buy and sell digital collectibles, such as NFTs.
Some of these digital collectibles come with the right to buy a ticket to a World Cup match. This is known as the Right to Buy (RTB) program.
To participate in the RTB program, you need to create a FIFA Collect account and buy a digital collectible that includes the RTB. Once you have the RTB, you'll be able to buy a ticket to a specific match at a later date.
Is the RTB program a good way to get tickets?
The RTB program is a bit of a gamble. On the one hand, it's a way to secure your spot at the tournament before the general ticket lottery. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to buy a ticket to the match you want.
The price of the digital collectibles can also be quite high, so you could end up spending a lot of money without getting the tickets you want.
Overall, the RTB program is a good option for fans who are willing to take a risk and who are comfortable with the world of digital collectibles. For most fans, however, the general ticket lottery is a better option.
The Official Way to Buy Tickets: The September 10th Lottery
For most fans, the official way to buy tickets for the 2026 World Cup is through the general ticket lottery. The first lottery will take place on the week of September 10th, 2025.
To enter the lottery, you'll need to create a FIFA ticketing account and submit an application for the tickets you want. You can apply for tickets for specific matches, or you can apply for a team-specific ticket series, which will allow you to follow your favorite team throughout the tournament.
After the application period closes, FIFA will conduct a random selection draw to determine who gets to buy tickets. If you're selected, you'll be notified by email and you'll have a short period of time to pay for your tickets.
For more details on the ticket lottery, please see our Ultimate Guide to Securing FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets and our deep dive on all ticket sales phases.
The Risks of Buying Tickets on Resale Sites Like StubHub
If you search for World Cup 2026 tickets online, you'll likely come across websites like StubHub that claim to have tickets for sale. However, it's important to be very careful when buying tickets from these sites.
The tickets that are being sold on these sites are not real tickets. They are virtual tickets, which means that the seller does not actually have the tickets in their possession. They are simply selling you the promise of a ticket.
The seller will only be able to give you the ticket after they have obtained it through another channel, such as the general ticket lottery. This means that you could end up paying a very high price for a ticket that you may never receive.
If you buy tickets from a resale site, you are essentially giving the seller a no-interest loan. You are paying them for a ticket that they do not have, and you are taking on all of the risk.
We strongly advise against buying tickets from resale sites. The only official way to buy tickets for the 2026 World Cup is through the FIFA website.
Conclusion
So, are World Cup 2026 tickets already selling now? The answer is a little complicated. While you can't yet buy a standard ticket for a specific match, you can buy a hospitality package or a digital collectible with the right to buy a ticket.
For most fans, however, the best option is to wait for the general ticket lottery on September 10th. This is the only official way to buy tickets, and it's the best way to avoid scams and inflated prices.