World Cup Early Ticket Draw Wrapped
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Update on the Qualified Teams, mark March 26th and 31st as the unofficial start dates for the World Cup, the latter will certainly feature some truly wild and emotional matches.
Early Ticket Draw Results
I know 4 people personally who were accepted into the Early Ticket Draw. Which brings the total to 9 people whom I know have had the opportunity to purchase tickets so far. They bought a few tickets, but not as many. I am personally still at zero tickets if it makes anyone feel any better.
Copied from previous result post:
I have no idea how many people I know applied, so I have no estimate as to what percentage of people were accepted into it. It seemed like there was a greater availability for the earlier dates, but they did seem to release more over time. The prices seem to have changed throughout the period, so keep that in mind.
Below are some screenshots. From left to right, it’s a positive acceptance email, then what products are available, then the FIFA website detailing what time slot this person got. It looks like upon success in the draw, you get a 1-2 day notice, before your window starts. And then you’ll hop in at that time and just have a free for all to try and get tickets. It sounds like it’s chaotic and messy. Even if you cart something they can disappear. So cart and buy fast. Know what you want and go get it!
Prices had risen since the Visa Presale, but not substantially. It seems quite clear that FIFA is doing a very good job with managing the supply and keeping it very low, only releasing a handful of tickets each day for each of these early sales, just to artificially boost the price of tickets, maintaining the rarity and stoking the fire of the FOMO that has been building.
Let me be clear. The prices of this World Cup are significantly more expensive than last time. Obviously with a truly open market resale market, that was going to happen, but even just the face value tickets seem to be very high. Comparing the tickets I purchased in the group stage last World Cup and this World Cup (6 matches) the prices have more than doubled (increased 103%). I spent on average $176 and $72 per group stage ticket (categories 2 and 3 respectively) and those are already being priced at over $343 and $148. Inflation for this 4 year period was about 13%, so that’s obviously not enough to explain this change.
Random Selection Draw (Main Draw)
December 11th is when the next application window opens. You need to complete your application before January 13th. This is likely the “big” one. I imagine the majority of the tickets will be released then, with some reserves to continually manage supply and reserve for sponsors and hospitality. So best of luck to us then!
That said, that application will probably look different than the previous ones which were very barebones and just gained access to a window to try and buy tickets, based on this email, it looks like it’ll resemble a similar purchase situation like the previous World Cup, where the application will be much more specific about which matches and which categories you’ll purchase. And if approved you get charged automatically in February. So there won’t be a ticket window rush like the previous two sales which will be nice. Definitely means you have to mull over and plan out the application much more thoroughly for that one.
We’ll see what it looks like when the window opens, and I’ll probably post around then to update everyone.
“The Random Selection Draw application period runs from 11 December 2025 to 13 January 2026 and begins and ends at the same time on both dates: 11:00 am (Eastern Time) / 8:00 am (Pacific Time) / 10:00 am (Mexico City Time) / 17:00 (Central European Time). We look forward to welcoming your ticket application during this upcoming phase.”
New Qualifiers
Joining the 28 already qualified, we’re now up to 42. France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, Austria, Panama, Curacao, and Haiti.
The remaining six spots will be decided via two little playoff tournaments. 4 via UEFA (Europe’s) and 2 via the Intercontinental (Rest of the World). Round 1 will be on 03/26/26 and the final matches will be on 03/31/26. Mark that day down for some excellent and dramatic football. These will be stadiums full of “true” fans, in their home countries, with absolutely everything on the line. The atmospheres will be epic. Here are those brackets and dates:
UEFA (World Cup Qualification - Second Round) will be played at the randomly selected home stadiums of the participating countries.
A
03/26/2026 - Wales v. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, Wales
03/26/2026 - Italy v. Northern Ireland in Bergamo, Italy
03/31/2026 - Final in either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina
B
03/26/2026 - Ukraine v. Sweden, location TBD (thanks Putin)
03/26/2026 - Poland v. Albania in Warsaw, Poland
03/31/2026 - Final in Poland (probably) or Sweden
Over the past couple of years Ukraine has played its home matches in Poland (where many of its refugees have been living since Russia lashed out like a cornered bear), but with Poland also playing in this group, it has thrown a bit of a logistical dilemma into the mix. It would be however, really really cool to see a full split 50/50 Ukraine / Poland match in Warsaw.
C
03/26/2026 -Turkiye v. Romania, location TBD
03/26/2026 - Slovakia v. Kosovo in Braislava, Slovakia
03/31/2026 - Final in either Slovakia or Kosovo
D
03/26/2026 - Denmark v. North Macedonia in Copenhagen, Denmark
03/26/2026 - Czechia v. Republic of Ireland in Prague, Czechia
03/31/2026 - Final in either Czechia or Ireland
International (FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament) will actually be played in two Mexico’s host cities, Monterrey and Guadalajara. This should be a really fun series of games so definitely mark March 31, 2026 in your calendars for the first real amuse bouche for the World Cup.
03/26/2026 - New Caledonia v. Jamaica in Guadalajara
03/31/2026 - Winner v. DR Congo in Guadalajara
03/26/2026 - Bolivia v. Suriname in Monterrey
03/31/2026 - Winner v. Iraq in Monterrey
Updated for the now 42 teams that have made it to the proper tournament:
Jersey Distribution
The Want list? Here you go, you nosy sons of guns:
A South Korea Son kit is basically at the top of the list.
A Canadian Makar hockey jersey has been a priority for a long time.
A New Zealand All Blacks kit has been on the list for years.
Senegal is a cool country, and a Mane kit would be great since my Liverpool one is currently peeling.
Not part of the official teams yet, but I’ve always wanted an Ireland jersey, and the commemorative Umbro kit in 2025 is pretty great.
I think I’m going to wait until the 2026 kits are released later. The Adidas home kits were released, but I found them relatively disappointing.