WASHINGTON, April 3 (V7N) –  FIFA announced Wednesday that the fourth and final phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup in North America has begun, with more than three million tickets available.  

The “last-minute” sales phase opened at 1500 GMT on FIFA.com/tickets and will run until the end of the tournament on July 19. Tickets are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis and will be released on a rolling schedule, including for matches taking place the same day.  

At the scheduled time, buyers are directed to a waiting page before entering the sales phase. FIFA’s instructions note: “A countdown will appear before you can enter the ticket sales phase. Once the countdown is over, an ‘Enter’ button will be available for 5 minutes.”  

In total, nearly seven million tickets are being offered across the 16 stadiums hosting the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. More than three million have already been sold in earlier phases, including over one million during the random selection draw in January and February, which attracted 500 million requests.  

FIFA is expected to break the all-time record of 3.5 million tickets sold, set during the 1994 World Cup. This year’s expanded format features 48 teams and 104 matches, 78 of which will be played in the United States.  

Ticketing has sparked controversy, with fan groups accusing FIFA of “opaque and unfair” procedures and exorbitant prices. Football Supporters Europe and Euroconsumers filed a complaint with the European Commission on March 24, alleging abuse of market dominance.  

FIFA has defended its pricing, citing “crazy” demand, though it introduced a $60 ticket category for official supporters’ clubs in December. Fan groups say those tickets were sold out before general sales began.  

The governing body will reopen its official resale and exchange platform Thursday. In Canada and the US, resellers set their own prices, while in Mexico resale above face value is prohibited.  

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