All 2026 World Cup matches will be sold out - FIFA President Infantino
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup will be sold out, even though tickets remain available ahead of the June 11 kickoff. Speaking to CNBC, Infantino revealed that FIFA received 508 million ticket requests during a four-week sales window for roughly seven million available seats.
“The demand is there. Every match is sold out,” he said.
Global Frenzy for First 48-Team World Cup
The expanded tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first 48-team edition in World Cup history.
Infantino said ticket requests came from more than 200 countries during the main sales phase in January. “We’ve never seen anything like that, incredible,” he added. FIFA has held back a portion of tickets for a final sales phase beginning in April, which will run through the tournament’s conclusion on July 19.
Ticket Prices and Dynamic Market
Supporters’ groups have criticized ticket prices as “exorbitant,” particularly on resale platforms where prices have already reached record levels.
Infantino defended the pricing model, noting that in the U.S. market, dynamic pricing allows ticket costs to fluctuate based on demand. Fans can also resell tickets through official secondary platforms, where prices may rise further.
“That’s part of the market we are in,” he said.
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Massive Financial Impact
Infantino estimates the 2026 World Cup could generate $11 billion or more in revenue for FIFA, with all proceeds reinvested into football development across its 211 member associations.
He also projected a significant economic boost:
- $30 billion impact on the U.S. economy
- 20–30 million tourists expected
- Seven million stadium spectators
- 185,000 full-time jobs created
“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.” With record demand and expanded participation, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the largest, and potentially most lucrative, World Cup in history.
Tinu Brown