FIFA’s first ticket window—the Visa Presale Draw—is a random-selection lottery, not first-come, first-served. Fans create a FIFA ID and submit their applications during the entry period of September 10–19, 2025 (11:00 a.m. ET close). Only Visa payment cards are eligible in this phase. Applicants who are drawn will begin receiving notifications from September 29, each with a time-slot to purchase that starts no earlier than October 1; if you miss your slot, your allocation can be released back to the pool. Prices start at USD $60 for group-stage matches, but FIFA is using dynamic pricing, so amounts can move with demand and match importance.
The early response underscores demand: in the first 24 hours of the presale, FIFA received over 1.5 million applications from fans in 210 countries. Expect certain venues and marquee dates to be heavily oversubscribed; the lottery won’t consider the order you applied—only that you applied within the window—so take time to select multiple cities and dates that work for you. Additional lottery phases follow in late October, and a broader random-selection phase opens after the Final Draw on December 5, 2025, when most group-stage matchups are known. Later, FIFA typically runs limited first-come, first-served drops for any remaining inventory closer to kickoff.
Key mechanics to remember: selection emails begin Sept 29; purchase windows begin Oct 1; you’ll need your FIFA ID and a valid Visa card to complete payment in the first phase; and tickets are subject to availability even if you’re selected. Hospitality packages are sold separately via FIFA’s official providers and are not part of the standard lottery. If you’re applying from multiple devices or accounts, make sure your details are consistent—FIFA can void duplicates. Finally, don’t panic about applying “late” within the window; it won’t hurt your chances versus someone who applied on day one.
Link to original article:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6635982/2025/09/17/2026-world-cup-ticket-lottery-rules/
