No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsWorld Cup 2026 Ticket Sales Begin Today with Visa Presale

World Cup 2026 Ticket Sales Begin Today with Visa Presale

Soccer fans in Costa Rica (and around the world) can now start applying for tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the first phase opens today, September 10. This initial round targets Visa cardholders through a presale draw, giving them early access to seats for matches in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The presale begins at 11:00 a.m. ET, which is 9:00 a.m. local time here in Costa Rica. It runs until September 19, 2025, at the same time. To join, people need a valid Visa credit or debit card and must create a free FIFA Ticketing account on the official site. Applicants pick their preferred matches, including group stages, knockouts, or the final, and submit entries for up to four tickets per game.

FIFA handles this as a lottery because demand often exceeds supply. Successful applicants get notified starting September 29, 2025, and can then buy their allocated tickets. Prices start at $60 for group-stage games, going up to $6,730 for premium seats at the final. Most tickets fall in accessible ranges, with options for different categories based on seat location.

For Costa Ricans, this matters as the national team pushes through qualifiers in CONCACAF. If La Sele qualifies, fans might target games featuring the team, though matchups remain unknown until the draw in December 2025. The tournament expands to 48 teams, increasing chances for Central American sides. Even without qualification, many locals plan to travel for the event, given its proximity in North America.

The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities. Matches happen in stadiums like Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA expects over 5 million attendees, making early application key for popular games.

After this Visa phase, a second presale opens from October 27 to 31, for other partners. General sales follow in November 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis. Hospitality packages, offering extras like food and VIP access, sell separately through official channels.

Local travel agencies in Costa Rica already field inquiries about packages combining flights, hotels, and tickets. Experts advise checking visa requirements for travel to host countries, especially for longer stays.

FIFA stresses that only its official site sells legitimate tickets to avoid scams. Resale platforms risk invalid entries, so stick to fifa.com for all applications.

This presale marks the first step for fans to secure spots at what promises to be the largest World Cup yet. Costa Ricans interested should act now if they hold a Visa card, as later phases might see higher competition.

Trending Now

Guatemala Backlash Grows after Escape of Imprisoned Gang Members

The escape of 20 “high-risk” gang members from a prison has sparked a political crisis in Guatemala, with criticism of President Bernardo Arévalo and...

Costa Rica’s Liberia Airport Fixes Runway Issues Overnight

Contractors began repairs on the runway at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport this week, focusing on sections that did not meet required standards after...

Costa Rica Targets June 2026 for New High-Security Prison

Costa Rica faces a sharp increase in homicides tied to drug trafficking, putting heavy strain on its prisons. In response, the government has moved...

Costa Rica’s Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Experiences Moderate Eruption

Guanacaste residents woke up to activity from Rincón de la Vieja volcano yesterday morning. The volcano produced a moderate phreatic eruption at 6:08 a.m....

What Camera Traps Miss Chasing Jaguars in Costa Rica

Five years ago, I began my journey using camera traps in wildlife monitoring projects in Costa Rica. A few years after that I began...

Bolivia Elects Center-Right Leader Amid Crisis

Bolivians on Sunday elected a pro-business center-right senator as their new president, ending two decades of socialist rule that have left the South American...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica