(This story was updated to add new information.)
Fans across the world jumped on FIFA’s website in hopes of snagging a ticket for the 2026 World Cup, but some were greeted with an “in queue” screen for several hours.
Fans shared concerns online that they may not be able to get tickets in FIFA’s “Last-Minute Sales Phase,” which opened Wednesday, April 1. Unlike in prior sales, which used a lottery-based system, tickets sold in this phase are on a first-come, first-served basis.
“I’m in the Queue,” X user A Pepe posted. “(World Cup) will be over when I’m up lol.”
Across the internet, fans criticized FIFA for the method used in this round of ticket sales.
“Three hours waiting in the FIFA ticket queue. Get to the front, follow the prompts and click to enter. Blank screen for ages so refresh. Kicked out to join the back of the queue again. Think I’ll walk the dog instead,” X user Murray Foote posted.
“What a disgusting show from FIFA,” X user Jesusshame08 posted. “You all are playing with the fans, 3 hours in the queue to end in the PMA queue, at the end couldn’t take any ticket.”
The portal to purchase tickets opened at 8 a.m. PT. Two USA TODAY Network reporters entered the queue before 8:15 a.m. PT and waited hours to enter.
The Associated Press reported that FIFA appeared to experience technical difficulties and long waits during the sale.
FIFA did not immediately respond to the USA TODAY Network’s questions about why users we’re experiencing long wait times, and whether tickets were available for games held in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Here are the games listed on FIFA’s website and their respective prices just before 3 p.m. PT.
As some fans waited for general admission tickets to FIFA’s 2026 World Cup, private suites for several matches were readily available for purchase on FIFA’s website.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara had over a dozen listings for private suites across the group stage matches through the quarterfinals.
The cheapest suite at SoFi Stadium was priced at $64,500 for the group-stage match between Iran and New Zealand, while the most expensive suite went for $123,000 for the quarterfinals match.
The cheapest suite at Levi’s Stadium was priced at $55,200 for the group-stage match between Qatar and Switzerland, while the most expensive suite went for $69,600 the round of 32 match.
World Cup tickets will be available through a number of third-party resellers, but FIFA is encouraging fans to use its in-house resale/exchange marketplace.
According to FIFA, its marketplace “enables fans who can no longer attend matches to sell their tickets to other fans in a secure and authorized environment, safeguarding against invalid or unauthorized resale.”
Of course, the marketplace will be used not just by fans who can no longer attend matches, but also those looking to make a profit on high-demand games.
The FIFA resale marketplace will open on Thursday, April 2.
The World Cup gets underway on June 11, with Mexico hosting South Africa at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City. The tournament will run all the way through July 19, when the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This year’s tournament will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams for the first time. The 104 games will be spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the U.S. hosting 78 matches.
The host cities for the 2026 World Cup are as follows:
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