World Cup Random Selection Draw
Today opens the main ticket window, called the Random Selection Draw.
Go to the main FIFA Ticket page and click Learn More under Tickets. You’ll need to log in or create a FIFA account.
It is open until January 13th, 2026. So there is no rush, since this will take lots of planning, and there is no advantage for submitting at the beginning of the window or the end. You have to select which matches, how many tickets, and which categories you want. You’re allowed a maximum of 40 tickets in your application, and you cannot have any tickets on the same day, so applying for one will block out the dates for another. You’re also not allowed to apply for more than 4 tickets per a game, but you can type in application numbers of others if you want to try and sit together, though there’s no guaranty that they will be able to accommodate.
There are a bunch of teams that look like they’re doing some team lotteries directly on the FIFA platform. For most people you’ll want to click Random Selection Draw, the first option.
If you are interested in trying to do an application for a specific team (following that team throughout the tournament), if the team you want to follow isn’t on here, then it’ll be on their own specific website, and you’ll have to go through a different process to apply. There are only 18 fully available on the FIFA website. By selecting a specific team, you’ll be able to purchase two kinds of tickets. Group stage tickets or conditional knockout round tickets, which are only valid if your team makes it through to the specific stage. If your team is eliminated prior, you’ll get a refund minus a fee, last World Cup was around $10, but they haven’t announced how much this year’s will be. This is a pretty appealing route for anyone who may be supporting a team and doesn’t want to guess where they may end up in the knockout system, but you will be paying a premium of about 10-25% depending on the match, although you get to purchase in the Supporters sections, which I promise you, will be much much more fun. But for the group stage the prices can vary slightly, but remember, that the stadiums don’t hold many value / category 3 seats anyway, so your odds are lower if you try to save money.
In Random Selection Draw you’ll be able to filter for teams or cities, and select which category seats you want and how many tickets (up to 4 per match). They’ll have the match number, date, location, and teams playing if applicable. When you click in you have to just add the tickets you want to your application. Once you add tickets for a match, it’s basically a part of your application, and then it even greys out other matches on that day so you can’t add those conflicting tickets.
When you’re satisfied with your application, you’ll hit continue. And you’ll be brought to the final screen before submission. Here you have a chance to add application numbers of friends you want to sit with and can choose to accept ticket category changes. So a category 3 application might become a category 2, but won’t ever be switched to a category 1. It’s worth considering accepting this option or even just pick higher level categories to increase your application chance. Assume that it will only become more expensive. Given the stark price difference of the categories, it can be assumed that your odds of having a successful application greatly increase the more category 1 tickets you add.
Last World Cup I applied for category 3 with this flexibility chosen and I won for category 2. I’ll never know the real system behind it, but picking higher category matches will certainly give you significantly better odds. Remember, category 1 seats are pretty much priced at the resale market values generally (with some variability for certain matchups, cities, and rounds).
Only can use Visa and Mastercard currently. Though I believe if you’re accepted you’ll be given a chance to use a different card.
You always have the ability to go back in and edit your application before the window closes in January, so don’t feel too stuck at this point. Review, take notes, debate, and you can always come back to it.
Applications may be partially successful, and you’ll likely be notified and given a 24-48 period to purchase your application’s tickets set at the prices you selected. Thank goodness there won’t be any more of the surge Ticketmaster nonsense (at least until the resale market).
Remember whatever is accepted in your application you have to buy, there is no picking and choosing at that point if you get accepted. It’s all or nothing (of what FIFA approves). So truly only pick things you want to go to, have a buyer for, or feel there will be an economic value in the resale market.
The results of the draw will be announced February 5th, 2026.
Also, let’s be clear. Somehow America is trying to compete with Qatar to see who is worse at hosting this. While Qatar has blood on its hands, built a rather soulless affair, and ruined the atmosphere of the matches, it did manage to actually allow a lot of people from an overlooked area to go see a World Cup match. America seems intent on extorting everyone and maximizing profits, to build equally soulless affairs. While the stadiums are geographically spread out (sort of, the middle of the country doesn’t have a ton of access), it seems like they plan on making this an event for the wealthiest. Tickets are 5x more expensive than they were last time out. And remember, there are 40 more games in this tournament than last time and the stadiums are 25% larger on average.
That means the roughly $949M in ticket and hospitality sales they made in Qatar… if somehow this holds true for the one next summer. 40 more games, 5x the ticket prices, and 25% larger stadiums… I mean that has the potential revenue is nearly $10B. I doubt that it can attain that. Lots of dead rubber matches, overpriced, global economic turmoil. I still think group stage tickets will drop in value. I look forward to the viewing parties throughout New York.
Also done on December 6 was the Schedule Draw. So we actually have a real full schedule.
If you want to help me out and are looking for a suggestion of matches.
I’m going for one of the Netherlands group stage matches. Either in Houston or Dallas, since they’re both on weekends which means they’ll retain their value. The matchups are against the Japanese, who are always competitive and a very great fanbase, or a TBD European team, which will hopefully keep the ticket value low, though should buy them before March. M11 or M35
The final match for that group will be against Tunisia in Kansas City. Most likely a dead rubber, the ticket price is lower than the two Texan cities, but flights are more expensive from New York.
Locally I’ll try and go to games in New Jersey, Philadelphia, or Massachusetts.
Philadelphia is cheaper than the other two, so definitely keeping an eye on Croatia v. Ghana. This one will likely not be a dead rubber, with England likely topping the group, both Ghana and Croatia will likely want to push to take points from this game. M68
New Jersey I’ll focus on Norway v. Senegal for my nieces and nephews. I have a goal of taking all four of them (with my brother and I as chaperones) to a match. This is likely the most affordable one to get for them, and both teams will be in good voice since Norway hasn’t been around in 32 years and Senegal’s supporters are always a good time. M41
Secondarily Brazil v. Morocco is a great game to open on, so if I happen to snag tickets to that I would definitely go. Both teams will be eager to set a tone and go the distance. M7
Separately, I’d like to take the Paschals, and the most convenient location for them is Atlanta, which has a lot of optionality for the knockout rounds. Both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 are good options and I’ll be looking to snag a foursome for us to go. M80 or M95
Aspirationally I’ll throw in M100, M102, and M104, for a shot at the QF, SF, and Finals. Might as well since they’ll be in hot demand.