FIFA’s ‘last-minute’ 2026 World Cup ticket sales open April 1; U.S. to start vs. Paraguay
FIFA will open its ‘last-minute’ ticket sales phase for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, April 1, at 11 a.m. ET, offering fans the chance to buy seats on a first‑come, first‑served basis and select exact locations for the first time. The new window allows immediate purchases through FIFA’s official ticketing portal, a change from previous lotteries.
Fans who previously bought within FIFA’s four pricing categories will be able to see the precise locations of their seats starting Wednesday. Those legacy categories ranged from Category 1—the highest‑priced, primarily in the lower tier—through Categories 2 and 3 in areas outside Category 1, to Category 4, the most affordable option generally in the upper tier.
FIFA said tickets will be released on a rolling basis and advised fans to check the ticketing site regularly as not all available seats will be posted at once. The governing body’s authorized resale marketplace, which it describes as a secure channel designed to safeguard against invalid or unauthorized resale, is scheduled to open on Thursday, April 2.
In practice, the platform is expected to serve both fans who can no longer attend and those looking to resell high‑demand tickets. The final six teams have qualified, completing the 48‑nation field for the tournament, which begins in June. The United States was drawn into Group D and will open against Paraguay in Inglewood.
The team will play its three group‑stage matches in Inglewood, Seattle and back in Inglewood. As a co‑host, the United States returns to the tournament after last qualifying in 2022 and is ranked No. 16 in the latest FIFA world rankings. As of publication, the cheapest available United States 2026 World Cup ticket is $1,176, with field‑level seats starting at $2,156.
It will be the United States’ 12th World Cup appearance; its best result remains third place in 1930. With tickets set to be released periodically, fans seeking seats are encouraged to monitor FIFA’s platform throughout the sales phase.