Africa excited as over one million tickets snapped up for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Football fever continues to rise across the globe and Africa is no exception as fans from 212 countries and territories have already purchased more than one million tickets for the FIFA World Cup 26.

The milestone comes after the closure of the Visa Presale Draw phase, launched in mid-September, marking another exciting step toward the biggest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history.

With 28 teams already confirmed for the global showpiece including nine from Africa, enthusiasm is spreading far and wide.

Fans from across Africa have joined the worldwide rush for tickets, with many eagerly anticipating the tournament that will feature 48 teams for the first time ever, a format expected to offer greater representation for the continent.

Unsurprisingly, the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico lead in ticket purchases, followed by England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France rounding out the top ten.

Fans who missed out will have another chance soon

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the overwhelming response:

“What an exciting step on our journey toward 2026! As national teams across the globe compete for a place at this historic World Cup, I’m thrilled to see so many football-loving fans already wanting to be part of it. The sale of over one million tickets shows the incredible passion this event inspires across all continents.”

Fans who missed out in the presale will have another chance soon, with the Early Ticket Draw entry period opening on 27 October. This phase will give supporters access to single-match tickets for all 104 games, along with venue- and team-specific packages.

To ensure safety and fairness in ticket distribution, FIFA has already activated its official resale platform via FIFA.com/tickets.

The system helps protect fans from unauthorised resales and invalid tickets, with a dedicated FIFA Ticket Exchange Platform also available for residents of Mexico.

Additionally, single- and multi-match hospitality packages, including match tickets, can be purchased through FIFA.com/hospitality. FIFA strongly reminds supporters to buy tickets only through its official platforms to guarantee authenticity and access.

As anticipation grows, Africa, a continent with some of the world’s most passionate football supporters continues to look ahead to 2026 with renewed hope and excitement, eager to make its mark on what promises to be the most historic World Cup yet.