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November 2025 World Cup Digest
This edition covers:
Note: gmail occasionally cuts off the email version of the newsletter so if this occurs, you’ll want to click “Read Online” in the top right corner of the message.
Phase 1 Recap
Last time we had a full newsletter (i.e. not the ad-hoc email reminder for Phase 2 ticket lottery registration), it was the day before Phase 1 purchasing started. It was ill-timed planning on my part as the first 1-2 weeks of October was…intense? Here’s a quick recap…
Pricing: Ticket prices in Phase 1 started to leak fast across socials and The Athletic scraped together data on it. There were some other data sources so I took it upon myself to break down the pricing reported at the start of Phase 1.
Variable Pricing…Which brings me to the next comment in that FIFA deployed its Dynamic Variable Pricing in the middle of Phase 1. It will be interesting to see how Phase 2 starts! For those that haven’t looked yet, I published an article after Qatar 2022 that visually details prices for every Men’s World Cup since 1994. There’s even graphs that account for inflation at December 2022. I am incorporating the data from Phase 1 to provide solid visuals on 2026.
Crushed Dreams: One more comment on Ticket Prices. The tickets to watch Mexico, Canada and USA are…very pricey. Sadly, I immediately abandoned my plan to watch one of these matches after seeing the prices.
Loopholes Thrives: It’s also been reported across socials how fans sold their Phase 1 Time Slots so it will be interesting to see how this all plays out in Phase 2 because it is possible a large contingent of ticket purchases were made by individuals with 0 interest in attending.
Future of Prices: Unfortunately, many families and fans that were excited to attend a match have already declared it fiscally impossible. The entire dynamic is impossible to predict how it will play out over the next 7-8 months.
Sporting Events Should Be Accessible For All: I have seen some people say “this is the world’s biggest sporting event, of course it will be the world’s most expensive event”. I disagree with this sentiment that it must be this way and can’t be accessible, especially when the majority of revenue comes from sponsorships and broadcasting.
FIFA Resale Platform Live
The FIFA Resale Platform also went live in the middle of Phase 1. In a shocking move from FIFA, those that purchased early tickets were already reselling them…and possibly more shocking, people were paying. Look, only 15% of tickets were allocated in Phase 1 and another 15% reportedly allocated for Phase 2. If you don’t get tickets now, you still have a chance at 70% of the tickets. And, don’t forget about Hospitality tickets.
Sponsor Tickets
Another interesting development for 2026 tickets is the involvement of FIFA sponsors.
American Airlines rolled out a portal to use miles to purchase tickets while Verizon Wireless had themed “give away days” for tickets.
Keep an eye out between now and June for more activations and similar methods.
Phase 2 Ticket Purchasing
As I think you all know, Phase 2 Lottery Registration occurred from Oct 27th to 31st so hopefully no one is caught off-guard by news that it is too late to apply for Phase 2.
Regarding purchase windows, it will be similar to Phase 1 where “winners” receive a time window and are notified at least 48 hours in advance.
The important information to know regarding dates and tickets:
Starting November 12:
72-hour time window for only residents of host countries (i.e. Mexico, Canada, USA).
Residents can only purchase tickets for matches that take place in their country.
75% of the 1M tickets available in Phase 2 will be allocated here!
Starting November 17:
Global random-selection time slots begin
I suspect Category 4 tickets are gone given their scarcity.
Once you get into the FIFA Ticket Portal though, act quickly. You’ll likely run into a situation where tickets look available and then they’re gone. Keep trying. Refresh. It’s chaos and we’re all competing for the same prize.
Let the World Cup Ticketing Games Begin
I’m quite curious, any readers snag tickets already or have any stories to share?
Personally, I purchased tickets to one match and am considering a trip to Monterrey for a few days to attend one more match. It may not be possible but that’s alright. As I briefly discuss below, a World Cup is more than match attendance and I’m looking forward to public gatherings and mixing with various cultures and fans. I also recognize it is easier to come to this point of view knowing I do have one match to attend.
Reviewing All FIFA Ticket Sales Windows
With the onslaught of ticket news just beginning, I created a brief overview of the ticket process thus far. It appears from the literature that there will be 4 phases for tickets on FIFA.com/tickets.
Phase 1 - Lottery - Completed (October 2025)
Phase 2 - Lottery - General Sale (Now)
Reviewed above
Phase 3 - Lottery - Post Draw
December 5th is the Draw so…after this
Phase 4 - First Come, First Serve
2026…your last chance
Tip: check for tickets often and until the very last moments the day of a match. You’ll be surprised how much appears last minute.
Source: FIFA’s Image found in this article
I Have Tickets, Now What?
If you’re one of the fortunate souls who acquired tickets at this point or you’re wondering what to do next once you do acquire tickets, here’s a quick checklist:
Traveling from abroad, check on whether or not you need a visa to enter Mexico, Canada or USA.
You’ll want to consider Travel
Flights:
Utilize a service like Google Flights where you can go into Explore mode and view entry points into various airports.
Use a service like Going that proactively notifies you of mistake fares, sales, etc. You can use this link for 20% off. I personally use Going for international and domestic fares.
Alternate Transportation for Budget Conscious
Start planning lodging:
This could be trickier in some cities than others; hence where our partner Roadtrips can come in to assist.
Else, check your hotel aggregators like Hotels.com, Booking, Expedia, etc.
I would NOT count on using hotel points for lodging, but you never know.
Don’t forget to check out our newly launched (Version 1) Host City Guides for quick references on all of the above, Fan Fests, Things to Do, Public Transit, and more.
Host City Guides by City
Host City Guide Partnerships
I’ve already received a few inquiries but yes, if you have an event, business, etc in one or multiple Host Cities, it is possible to partner on advertising it - if it makes sense and adds value to each guide. I have already partnered with a couple.
Qualifying Updates
Speaking to the event itself and ensuing matches…there are currently 28 teams out of 48 that have qualified going into the November international window. The remaining 18 guaranteed slots come from CONCACAF (3) and UEFA (15) while the intercontinental playoffs start to take shape (2 teams).
World Cup 2026 Qualifying Status
Region | Ends | Status | Qualified Teams | Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Done | 6 of 6 | Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay | Bolivia | |
NOV | 8 of 8 | Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudia Arabia | 1 spot | |
NOV | 9 of 9 | Morocco, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, | 1 spot | |
NOV | 3 of 6 | USA, Canada, Mexico | 2 spots | |
DONE | 1 of 1 | New Zealand | New Caledonia | |
MAR | 1 of 16 | England | 0 spots |
6 teams compete for 2 final World Cup spots:
Region | How Team Qualifies |
|---|---|
South America | Bolivia (confirmed) |
Asia | Winner of Iraq vs United Arab Emirates |
Africa | 1 of the following teams: Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria |
North America | 4th & 5th place finishers |
Oceania | New Caledonia (confirmed) |
Format: Two highest-ranked teams are seeded. Four lowest-ranked teams play knockouts, winners face seeded teams for final 2 World Cup spots.
You can see more via the live standings and results here.
Answering Reader Questions
Interested in sending a question? Hit respond directly from your inbox to send a message to submit a question. I’m summarizing & generalizing the topics here:
Do you have any insights about Host Cities and which to use as “base”?
I wrote some words about Atlanta months ago and above is the Host City Guides. I will say that Kansas City is a Host that may not be the first to mind of the 16, but given its location (i.e. centrally with an airport featuring quick, easy flights throughout North America), an “Americana” vibe and lower costs overall, it could be the most affordable Host with an authentic experience in middle America where the sport has a vibrant heart-beat. The city consistently has its public viewing parties featured during large tournaments and is investing in transportation options in key areas to assist moving visitors.
Any News on Right to Buy’s (RTB’s) yet?
Yes! You can continue to buy/sell RTBs before Nov 13. When it comes to converting to tickets, there will be a phased approach that ends December 1st. If you miss your phased section, your RTB loses value & becomes untradeable. Ticket Distribution for RTBS: CAT1 = 70% CAT2 = 28% CAT3 = 2%. For more information, check this site. And yes, I did post this on X, too.
Will tickets nose-dive like the Club World Cup?
Those unaware, FIFA made a mis-calculated assumption about its new Club World Cup and interest in the US public to fill massive stadiums in 2025. Tickets originally listed for $473 dropped to $13. Many hope the same happens for the World Cup in 2026. Honestly, since FIFA embraced scalping and allowed large groups to easily purchase tickets with the sole intent on selling for a profit, it is possible for tickets to drop in price at the last minute. BUT, it is unrealistic to think they’ll drop to the $13 level. There are too many people (hi 🙋♂️) who don’t care who is playing and will attend any match of a World Cup for a fair price.
Can you transfer a “main” ticket this year?
It sure does seem like it! Typically, a “main” ticket applicant (if you buy 2 tickets, you have a main + 1 guest) cannot be transferred. However, with FIFA embracing the idea of scalping tickets, one potential benefit is full transfer of a main ticket. In previous tournaments, it wasn’t possible to buy 1 ticket and then resell it without some clever workarounds. This is a benefit because, hypothetically, maybe a friend of yours gets selected in the lottery and can purchase a ticket on your behalf and transfer it to you. I would also suggest reading the Terms of Sale (I’ll create a summary post on this topic on the site + instagram in near future).
What’s the difference between transferring a ticket and assigning a guest ticket?
This is a related question for those who already saw you can transfer. This is covered in a FIFA FAQ but in general, a “transfer” means you’re giving over full access of the ticket. That person can resell it, transfer it again, etc and it is out of your ownership. A “guest” ticket does not maintain ownership of that ticket.
When do I receive my ticket after purchasing?
FIFA will use a mobile app for tickets and you won’t see your actual tickets hit the app until much closer to the tournament.
Are On Location & FIFA Still Hiring for 2026?
I’ll continue to post links for the jobs FIFA and others post. The positions refresh often:
On Location Jobs (Hospitality Vendor)
And, since a large % of readers here are American, here’s a link to open jobs with US Soccer, too.
Next Newsletter:
Heads up that I anticipate that the NEXT Newsletter will come after the draw, which occurs on December 5th. This way the December edition will contain information on the Draw + Phase 3 tickets.
Bonus Links
Ticket Registration for 2027
Spoiler alert, I also try to cover the Women and you’ll see me mention it a few times but ticket prices for 2023 from FIFA were insanely affordable. I am talking $25 USD for the FINAL affordable. The Women’s ticket prices will continue to rise (expect more obscene prices for 2031) but it will be interesting to see how 2027 is priced after 2026’s money-grab + success of recent Women’s tournaments. You can sign up for notifications on FIFA (or just stay subscribed here).
How I Feel Lately Regarding 2026
I love checking the main site’s analytics (nerd alert 🤓) and it still amazes me, even after 7 years, to see people engaging from all over the world. I spotted a backlink from Medium the other day and thought, “Yes, exactly this” when reading it. It captured my sentiment at a time I was down on the World Cup and wanted to share it. The tournament’s gone full spectacle, sometimes at the cost of the game’s soul. It’s a bit somber, but I still believe the real magic lives in those 90 minutes of shared emotion when football unites us like nothing else. That’s the legacy worth keeping, not the increasing commercialized version we’re being sold. Note: I still love this sport and this tournament.
U20 World Cup
Morocco’s men have been on fire the last few years and are hoping to build on their semifinal run in 2022 and their U20 team recently won the U20 World Cup.
Hotel Activity & Expected Surge
This article discusses the variables causing lodging in USA for 2026 to be slower than Canada & Mexico but everyone expects a surge after the Dec 5th draw. Will that ever materialize?
Public transit in the US varies drastically city to city and rarely does it connect city ti city well. That said, buses have gained in popularity and while not an option for everyone, it’s worth reading that Flixbus Host Cities article. It could be a transportation option for fans to travel between Host Cities. This reminds me of 2022 when I assisted people find bus transportation from UAE to Doha.
Did I See Your Ticket Prices Since 1994 Article Referenced in The Athletic?
😀 Yes, you did. The site overall always gets referrals and backlinks, especially as the tournament approaches (see Bonus Link #2 above) but to be recognized for my personal research by The Athletic is a proud moment.
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