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FIFA Pauses 2026 World Cup Ticket Portal as Next Lottery Opens Dec. 11

The freeze locks accounts and the official resale market until a short Dec. 11–15 window for listing or withdrawing tickets, with purchasing still unavailable.

Overview

  • FIFA posted a notice at 11 a.m. ET Friday temporarily suspending access to ticketing accounts and closing the official FIFA Marketplace.
  • From Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET through Dec. 15, fans will be able to list or withdraw tickets on the Marketplace, but buying will remain disabled during that period.
  • The next random‑draw ticket lottery opens Dec. 11 and runs through Jan. 13, with winners to be notified in February, and fans must have a FIFA ID to apply.
  • Roughly two million tickets have been sold across October and November releases, and FIFA plans a third tranche beginning in January with more than four million additional seats.
  • Third‑party platforms are advertising tickets at steep markups—such as $6,000–$13,000 listings for seats with a $2,440 face value—while FIFA reiterates its channels are the only guaranteed source.