Miami: FIFA announced on Friday that over 1 million tickets have already been sold for the 2026 World Cup, its first update on sales since they officially opened earlier this month.

As expected, the highest demand came from within the host nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA revealed that buyers from 212 countries and territories have already secured tickets, despite only 28 of the 48 tournament spots having been filled.

In terms of volume, the next highest ticket‑buying nations are England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina and France, in that order, FIFA added. The tournament will run from June 11 through July 19 next year.

“As national teams across the globe compete for a place at the historic FIFA World Cup 26, I am thrilled so many football‑loving fans also want to be part of this watershed event in North America,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.

He added: “It’s an incredible response, and a wonderful sign that the biggest, most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history is capturing the imagination of supporters everywhere.”

FIFA also announced that its resale platform is now open. Tickets for the final, to be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are currently on offer in that marketplace at prices from $9,538 (over ₹8 lakhs) up to $57,500 (over ₹50 lakhs) per seat.

The governing body did not disclose how many of those million-plus tickets were sold per match or by venue, nor did it publish a comprehensive grid of list prices — a practice it has followed in every World Cup since at least 1990.

FIFA’s update comes amid controversy after former US President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that matches in Boston and other locations might be relocated for security reasons.

Meanwhile, questions remain about visa access for international fans, particularly in light of tighter US immigration enforcement.

In one recent incident, an international friendly between defending champion Argentina (featuring Lionel Messi) and Puerto Rico was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, in part due to lackluster ticket sales, which some observers tied to immigration concerns.

The initial batch of ticket purchasers was selected through a lottery from 4.5 million applicants held last month. FIFA says the next draw opens to fans on October 27, at which point single‑match tickets, venue-specific tickets and team tickets for all 104 games will be released.

Stadium figures suggest there are about 7.1 million seats across the 104 matches at 16 North American venues. It is not yet clear how many of these will be made available for public sale.

The lowest‑cost seats, priced at $60, are available for at least 40 matches, though most matches carry significantly higher pricing. For example, tickets for the opening match in the U.S. to be held in Inglewood, California, ranged from $560 to $2,735 when sales began. In the resale market, one ticket for that June 12 match was listed at $61,642 on Thursday.

Fans may choose from four seating categories: Category 1 being the best available seats, Category 4 situated near the tops of stadiums. Prices are expected to vary dynamically as the tournament nears.

Winners in the second phase of the ticket draw will be able to purchase between mid‑November and early December. A third phase — a random selection draw — is scheduled to open after the final draw of teams on December 5, when the full World Cup match schedule will be revealed. FIFA also says additional tickets will become available closer to the tournament on a “first‑come, first‑served basis.”

Luka Dončić named LA World Cup ambassador

Los Angeles Lakers guard and Real Madrid supporter Luka Dončić was named on Thursday as an ambassador for the World Cup matches hosted in Southern California next year.

Fluent in four languages, the Slovenian said his multilingualism makes him well suited to welcome international fans. “I’ve always been a football fan,” Dončić said. “Los Angeles is a great city full of amazing people who love to play and watch every sport. I can’t wait for the World Cup and it’s an honour to help bring people together through a sport that connects so many cultures around the globe.”