Speaking at the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday, Infantino highlighted the scale of global interest, noting that FIFA plans to sell between six and seven million tickets in total. “In 15 days, we received 150 million ticket requests. That is around 10 million ticket requests every single day,” he said, calling the numbers a powerful reflection of the World Cup’s worldwide appeal.
Infantino placed the surge in demand into historical perspective, pointing out that FIFA has sold approximately 44 million World Cup tickets across nearly a century of tournaments. “In two weeks alone, we could have filled 300 years of World Cups,” he said, describing the response as extraordinary.
The FIFA president also addressed recent criticism over ticket pricing. Several fan groups had voiced concern that prices for the upcoming tournament were significantly higher than those at the 2022 World Cup. In response, FIFA introduced a new ticket category aimed at making matches more accessible to supporters of teams that qualify for the tournament. Infantino defended the pricing strategy by stressing the overwhelming demand and the broader financial role of the World Cup.
According to FIFA, fans from the United States have submitted the highest number of ticket requests so far, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. The figures underline the strong interest from both host and traditional football nations, reinforcing expectations that the expanded North American tournament will attract massive global attention.
Infantino emphasised that revenue generated from ticket sales plays a crucial role beyond the tournament itself. He said the funds are reinvested into football development worldwide, supporting the sport in countries where resources are limited. “Without FIFA, there would be no football in around 150 countries,” he said, adding that World Cup revenues help sustain and grow the game across all continents.
As preparations continue for the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three nations, the unprecedented demand signals not only commercial success but also the enduring global pull of the tournament. With millions of fans vying for a limited number of seats, the figures underscore how the World Cup remains one of the most powerful and far-reaching events in global sport.
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