How to buy World Cup tickets in Philadelphia
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The first real chance for fans to secure tickets to the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia begins Wednesday.
Why it matters: It's the start of several lotteries and ways to access standard match tickets — unless you're willing to pay thousands of dollars on VIP packages for top amenities and exclusive access.
The big picture: The tourney kicks off in June 2026 and will span 104 matches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
- Philly will host six World Cup matches — five in the group stage and one in the Round of 16.
State of play: The window to enter FIFA's first Visa Presale Draw runs from 11am Wednesday to 11pm on Sept. 19.
- This puts you in a lottery to buy up to four tickets per match for up to 10 matches.
- Winners will be notified by Sept. 29, with ticket purchases starting Oct. 1.
- Prices: $60-$6,730.
The fine print: You must be a Visa cardholder and 18+ to enter this first drawing.
- Winners can buy tickets for single matches and specific venues and teams.
- Match tickets will be for games between unknown opponents until the World Cup draw in December.
- Plus: While tickets to all matches, including the final, are supposed to be available, supply could run out, depending on the slot you're given to purchase tickets.
The intrigue: FIFA will use "variable pricing," aka dynamic pricing, for ticket sales, per The Athletic.
- That means ticket prices will fluctuate — up or down — depending on demand.
Round 2: The next ticket lottery drawing is Oct. 27-31 for non-Visa cardholders.
- Winners can start buying tickets in November.
Plus: The World Cup draw is set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.
- That's when we'll learn the matchups, dates and cities that teams will play in during the group stages.
Round 3: Soon after the World Cup draw, fans can enter a ticket lottery for specific matches.
Round 4: Closer to the tourney starting in June, remaining tickets go on sale to the general public on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Skip the line: Besides pricey hospitality packets, tickets to the World Cup have been popping up on secondary resale market sites for months.