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Five days. That’s all that stands between millions of hopeful fans and the moment of truth. After submitting over 20 million ticket requests during the Random Selection Draw phase, World Cup 2026 applicants will finally start receiving their lottery results beginning February 5, 2026. If you applied for tickets to the biggest World Cup in history, here’s everything you need to know about what happens next.
Ticket Lottery By The Numbers
20M+
Ticket Requests
5
Days Until Results
104
Total Matches
16
Host Cities
⚠️ Important: Whitelist These FIFA Emails NOW
To ensure you don’t miss your ticket notification, add these addresses to your contacts and check your spam folder daily:
📧 no-reply.fwc26@tickets.fifa.org
📧 noreply@mail.tickets.fifa.com
When Will You Find Out?
According to FIFA’s official timeline, ticket lottery notifications will begin no earlier than February 5, 2026. However, there’s one crucial detail many fans overlook: notifications will NOT be sent simultaneously. This means some applicants may receive their results days or even weeks before others.
📋 What To Expect
Successful applicants: You’ll receive an email confirmation detailing which tickets you’ve secured
Partially successful applicants: You’ll receive notification of which requests were fulfilled (common due to high demand)
Unsuccessful applicants: You will NOT receive a notification — no news means your application wasn’t selected
Payment processing: Cards will be automatically charged between February 2-23, 2026 for winners
Here’s the hard truth: if you don’t hear anything by late February, it likely means your application was unsuccessful. But don’t give up hope — multiple ticket sales phases remain before the tournament begins.
Understanding Your Results
When notifications begin rolling out, successful applicants will see one of three possible outcomes:
🎫
Congratulations!
You received all the tickets you requested. Your payment card will be charged automatically between February 2-23, 2026. Tickets will be delivered digitally via the FIFA Ticketing app closer to the tournament.
🎫
You Won Some, Lost Some
Due to overwhelming demand, you received some but not all requested tickets. This is extremely common. Your card will only be charged for tickets actually allocated. If you selected “Accept Downgrade,” you may receive lower category seats than originally requested.
📭
No Notification Means Unsuccessful
If you don’t receive an email, your application was not selected. You will NOT be charged. Don’t lose hope — additional ticket sales phases are coming, including first-come, first-served sales in Spring 2026.
What’s Next for Ticket Sales
Didn’t win the lottery? The World Cup dream isn’t over. FIFA has multiple ticket sales phases remaining:
🎫 Upcoming Ticket Opportunities
Bank of America Presale — February 10, 2026: Exclusive early access for Bank of America cardholders before general sales open
General First-Come, First-Served Sale — Spring 2026: Exact date TBA, but this will be your best chance if you missed the lottery
FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace: Official platform for fans to resell tickets at face value — available closer to the tournament
Supporter Entry Tier — $60 Tickets: Limited availability through national federations for restricted-view seats
⚠️ Beware of Ticket Scams
With demand this high, scammers are everywhere. Only purchase tickets through official FIFA channels (FIFA.com/tickets). Third-party resale sites carry significant risk of counterfeit tickets, and you may be denied entry at the stadium. The official FIFA Resale Marketplace is the only safe option for secondary market purchases.
Most In-Demand Matches
With over 20 million ticket requests flooding FIFA’s servers, certain matches saw astronomical demand. Here are the fixtures that drew the biggest crowds of applicants:
🇨🇴🇵🇹
Colombia vs Portugal — June 27, Miami
The Cristiano Ronaldo factor drove unprecedented demand for what could be his final World Cup match
🇺🇸
All USMNT Group D Matches
Host nation fever — every USA match attracted massive domestic demand
🇲🇽🇿🇦
Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, Estadio Azteca
The opening match of the tournament at the legendary Mexico City venue
🏆
World Cup Final — July 19, MetLife Stadium
The ultimate prize — tickets ranging from $600 to $4,185+ for premium categories
Ticket prices range from $60 for limited Supporter Entry Tier seats (restricted view) to over $4,185 for premium Final tickets. Most group stage matches fall in the $100-$300 range depending on category and venue.
Ready to see which matches fit your schedule and budget? Explore all 104 matches, venues, and dates with our interactive Schedule Navigator to start planning your World Cup experience.
Plan Your World Cup Experience Now
Whether you win tickets or not, now is the time to start planning your trip. With the tournament spread across 16 host cities in three countries over 39 days, strategic planning makes all the difference.
🗺️ Planning Essentials
16 Host Cities: Spanning USA (11), Mexico (3), and Canada (2) — from Boston to Guadalajara to Vancouver
Tournament Duration: June 11 – July 19, 2026 (39 days, 104 matches)
Travel & Accommodation: Book NOW — hotels near stadiums are filling up fast and prices are rising weekly
Visa Requirements: The FIFA PASS program provides expedited visa appointments for ticket holders entering the USA
Use our interactive Schedule Navigator to browse every match by date, venue, and team — then build your ultimate World Cup itinerary around the fixtures that matter most to you.
📅 Key Dates to Remember
February 5, 2026: Ticket lottery results begin rolling out
February 2-23, 2026: Payment processing for successful applicants
February 10, 2026: Bank of America presale begins
Spring 2026: General first-come, first-served ticket sales
March 26, 2026: Playoff semi-finals (final 6 teams being determined)
March 31, 2026: All 48 teams confirmed
June 11, 2026: World Cup begins — Mexico vs South Africa
July 19, 2026: World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium
Good luck to everyone who applied. The next few weeks will be an emotional rollercoaster for millions of fans around the world. Whether you secure tickets in this lottery or grab them in a future sales phase, the biggest World Cup ever is just months away.
Don’t forget to whitelist those FIFA email addresses, check your spam folder daily, and start planning your trip. The wait is almost over.
📅 Explore the Full Schedule
While you wait for lottery results, explore the complete 104-match tournament schedule. Use our Schedule Navigator to browse every group stage fixture, knockout round, and venue — and bookmark this site for updates on ticket sales, playoff results, and everything World Cup 2026.
