2026 World Cup shatters records with 150 million requests

FIFA officially confirmed that over 150 million requests were submitted which opened just weeks ago on December 11.

This staggering figure represents the highest demand ever recorded for a World Cup, leaving the tournament oversubscribed by more than 30 times. Fans from over 200 countries have applied for seats, highlighting the massive global appetite for the first 48-team edition hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

To put the scale into perspective, the current request volume is 3.4 times higher than the total number of spectators who have attended every match in the tournament's 96-year history combined. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the "overwhelming response" as a testament to the sport's global reach and a sign of the history to be made in North America.

The Random Selection Draw allows supporters to apply for specific matches based on the group stage schedule, with verification tied to credit card submissions to ensure authenticity. With millions already vying for a fraction of the available seats, the competition off the pitch is proving to be just as intense as the action expected on it.