Fans hit with delays in final FIFA World Cup ticket sales phase

Name: World Cup ticket frenzy frustrating fans
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T08:12:49-04:00
Description: Soccer fans hoping to score tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are running into some major issues. Fans say long wait times and website issues are making it hard to lock in a seat. Kim Leoffler reporting.

World Cup ticket frenzy frustrating fans

Soccer fans hoping to score tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are running into some major issues. Fans say long wait times and website issues are making it hard to lock in a seat. Kim Leoffler reporting.

ATLANTA - Fans trying to secure tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ran into major technical issues and long wait times during the final sales phase, which opened Wednesday.

What we know:

The last-minute ticket release marked one of the final opportunities for fans to buy seats directly from FIFA on a first-come, first-served basis, including matches set to be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FIFA said global demand has been massive, with millions of ticket requests submitted during earlier sales phases.

As sales went live, many users reported website crashes, delays and lengthy virtual queues.

What they're saying:

Some fans said they waited for hours without movement, while others reached the end of the line only to find no tickets remaining for their selected matches. A check on Thursday morning shortly before 8 a.m. revealed a wait time of almost 22 minutes.

FOX 5 Atlanta screenshot

What's next:

Officials say tickets will continue to be released on a rolling basis, and FIFA has also launched an official resale marketplace for verified ticket purchases.

Ticket prices rise

Dig deeper:

FIFA significantly increased ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup final during the latest sales phase, with top seats now reaching nearly $11,000, according to The Associated Press. That marks a sharp jump from prices released after the tournament draw in December, reflecting the organization’s use of dynamic pricing as demand surges.

Prices also rose across multiple ticket tiers, including mid- and lower-level seats for the final. While some group stage matches still had tickets available, inventory appeared limited and inconsistent, with many high-profile games — especially in later rounds — not yet released for sale.

The governing body has not provided a full breakdown of which matches or pricing categories are available, forcing fans to navigate the ticketing system themselves — often after waiting in lengthy online queues. FIFA said not all remaining tickets have been released and that more will be added gradually over time.

The pricing strategy has drawn criticism, including from lawmakers who argue dynamic pricing could make the tournament less accessible. FIFA maintains that additional lower-cost tickets will be distributed through national federations, while also operating an official resale platform that includes added fees for buyers and sellers.

World Cup in Atlanta

What we know:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will host 8 World Cup games.

The games include Spain vs. Cabo Verde on June 15; Czechia v. South Africa on June 18; Spain v. Saudi Arabia on June 21; Morocco v. Haiti on June 24; Congo DR v. Uzbekistan on June 27; and games on July 1, 7 and 15.