The WC 2026 sees 48 teams take part in 104 matches across 16 different venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Getting a ticket means working through the five official sales phases that started in September 2025 and run until the final on 19 July 2026.
This guide is the route map for Belgian fans: the official phases, ticket categories, currencies, safe purchase rules and resale terms.
✅ All five official sales phases: Visa Presale, Early Ticket Draw, Random Selection Draw, supporter phase and Last-Minute Sales explained.
✅ Belgian buyer context: Currency (USD for European buyers), payment methods, account requirements, official routes.
✅ Safe purchase, resale and refund rules: How to avoid scams and what happens if a match is cancelled.
Buying a ticket? Start here
This guide walks through the official sales phases, categories and prices. For the deeper price breakdown by stage and category, see the dedicated prices page.
About this guide. Ticket prices and availability change daily on the official ticketing portal. Prices marked TBC were not available in the public price grid at the time of the last editorial check. We do not estimate ticket prices.
Table of contents
- The five official sales phases
- How to buy tickets: step-by-step
- Ticket categories: what each tier means
- Currency and payment for Belgian buyers
- Stadium capacities and demand pressure
- Safe purchase: how to avoid ticket scams
- Resale, refunds and ticket transfer
- Travelling from Belgium: tickets do not replace entry requirements
- What about hospitality?
- Frequently asked questions
- Explore more WC 2026 content
The five official sales phases
Tickets get released through five distinct phases. The first three required advance registration and are now closed. The supporter phase and Last-Minute Sales remain available for fans who did not secure tickets earlier.
| Phase | Window | Process | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Presale Draw | 10 to 19 Sep 2025 | Random draw, then time slots from 1 October | Visa card required (closed) |
| Early Ticket Draw | 27 to 31 Oct 2025 | Random draw, time slots issued to successful applicants | Account required (closed) |
| Random Selection Draw | 11 Dec 2025 to 13 Jan 2026 | Applicants chose matches, categories and quantities | Account required (closed) |
| Supporter phase (PMA) | 1 to 21 Apr 2026 | Supporter allocation for late-qualified teams | Eligibility set by national association (closed) |
| Last-Minute Sales | 1 Apr to 19 Jul 2026 | First come, first served, real-time purchase | Account sign-in required |
As of now, the Last-Minute Sales window is the active route for general fans. Inventory varies by match, kick-off time and venue. There is no separate confirmed sales phase scheduled after Last-Minute Sales closes on 19 July.
Currency is residency-based: residents of Canada pay in CAD, residents of Mexico in MXN, residents of the United States in USD, and international buyers (including Belgian fans) pay in USD. Source: official ticketing customer support.
How to buy tickets: step-by-step
From a fresh start to a confirmed ticket in four steps. All steps run through the official ticketing portal.
Step 1: Create an official ticketing account
Sign up on the official ticketing site. The minimum age to purchase is 18. The account stores your ticket history, transfer options and resale listings. (Napoleon Sports, separately, enforces a minimum betting age of 21 in Belgium.)
Step 2: Choose your phase based on timing
Phases one to three are closed. For Belgian fans, Last-Minute Sales is the active route from now through 19 July. The supporter phase (PMA) only opens for fans of late-qualified nations through their national association allocation.
Step 3: Browse the live portal
Last-Minute Sales runs on first come, first served. Available inventory is shown in real time per match, with seat-level pricing in some cases. Pricing on the live portal can vary by phase, demand and availability, so identical category seats may be listed at different prices.
Step 4: Pay in your residency currency
Belgian residents pay in USD. Visa cards, other major payment cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay where supported are accepted in Last-Minute Sales. Fans with a confirmed ticket who need a US visa interview can use the dedicated appointment-priority route documented on the official portal, but ticket ownership does not guarantee visa approval or country entry.
Match dates, venues and kick-off times decide which tickets are realistic for your travel plan. The Groups hub and main tournament page cover the full schedule.
Ticket categories: what each tier means
The official ticket category structure runs from Category 1 (highest-priced general seating) to Category 4 (most affordable), plus accessibility areas and supporter-specific products. The 2026 system also includes front-row variants on selected categories.
| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Highest-priced general seating, premium sightlines along the sidelines. |
| Category 2 | Upper-tier sideline or premium behind-the-goal seating. |
| Category 3 | Standard seating across upper tiers and goal-end positions. |
| Category 4 | The most affordable general seating tier, where available. |
| Supporter Entry Tier | Confirmed at USD 60 for all 104 matches including the final, behind the goal locations only. |
A stable public price grid by round and category for WC 2026 is not yet published. Prices vary by phase, demand and availability, and a Category 2 seat may exceed a Category 1 seat in some cases. For the detailed by-stage price breakdown with the historical context from 2018 and 2022, see ticket prices per round.
Currency and payment for Belgian buyers
Belgian fans pay in USD. The official ticketing portal sets currency by buyer residency, so European fans are billed in US dollars regardless of which host country the match is played in. That has two implications.
The EUR-USD exchange rate matters. A USD 1,000 ticket can cost a different amount in EUR depending on the exchange rate at payment moment. Card issuers may add a foreign-transaction fee of 1% to 3% on top.
Payment method depends on phase. The Visa Presale Draw required a Visa card. Later phases accept Visa, other major payment cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay where supported in Last-Minute Sales.
Belgian consumer protection on event tickets (resale-above-face-value is prohibited under Belgian law) only applies to resale, not to the original purchase route. See Belgian consumer protection on ticket resale for the legal framework.
On Location is the official hospitality provider for the tournament. Packages include premium seating, lounge access, catering and dedicated entry. Single Match, Venue Series and Follow My Team formats are available.
Stadium capacities and demand pressure
Capacity varies sharply across the 16 host venues. The smallest stadiums generate the highest demand pressure per ticket, which matters for Last-Minute Sales availability.
| Smallest tournament venues | Capacity | City |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | 44,315 | Toronto |
| BC Place | 48,821 | Vancouver |
| Monterrey Stadium | 50,113 | Monterrey |
Net capacity per match can change with the stadium configuration on the day. For knockout planning, the confirmed late-stage venue list is: quarter-finals in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City; semi-finals in Dallas and Atlanta; third-place match in Miami; final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in New York / New Jersey on 19 July.
For the full schedule with match-by-match venue routing, the WC 2026 hub covers fixtures across the 16 venues.
Safe purchase: how to avoid ticket scams
Ticket fraud spikes around every major tournament. Five rules cover the major risks.
1. Use only the official ticketing site for general tickets. Unofficial tickets can be invalid, cancelled or fraudulent, and the official ticketing terms explicitly warn against secondary marketplaces.
2. Hospitality only via On Location or appointed agents. On Location is the exclusive hospitality provider for WC 2026. Any other site offering "official hospitality" without that explicit appointment is high risk.
3. Treat social media offers as high risk. Screenshots of tickets, private bank-transfer deals and listings on social platforms do not carry resale protection. The QR code can be valid for the original buyer only.
4. Resale above face value is prohibited under Belgian law. If you paid above the original price through a resale platform, the Belgian consumer authority can be contacted about the excess.
5. Check the domain before entering card details. Lookalike domains that combine tournament terms with "tickets" or "world cup" wording are not the official portal. Always navigate directly from the official ticketing hub.
Resale, refunds and ticket transfer
Three separate mechanisms cover what happens to a ticket after purchase.
Resale through the official resale and exchange marketplace
The official resale and exchange marketplace is the only safe route for selling a ticket you no longer need. Listings can be created up to one hour before kick-off, and there is no guarantee a listed ticket will sell. The standard resale fee is 15% of the resale price, with local caps in some jurisdictions. (In official terms, this is referred to as WC Resale Exchange Marketplace.)
Ticket transfer to a friend or family member
Transfer happens through the official ticketing account tools. A transferred ticket gives the recipient full control: they can use the ticket, retransfer it, invite a guest or resell through the official marketplace where permitted. Third-party transfer platforms are explicitly disallowed.
Refunds and match changes
All ticket sales are generally final. If a match is cancelled and not rescheduled, refunds are automatic under the cancellation policy. If a match relocates or reschedules, the notice will say whether tickets remain valid and whether refund or exchange options apply. A seat relocation within the same or equivalent category does not normally create a refund right. Full legal terms are in the official ticket terms of sale.
For Belgian fans following the tournament without a stadium ticket, the Napoleon Sports board covers all 104 matches once WC 2026 board is live. 21+. Play responsibly.
Travelling from Belgium: tickets do not replace entry requirements
Planning to travel from Belgium? Ticket purchase does not replace entry requirements for the United States, Canada or Mexico. Each host country has its own paperwork:
United States. Most Belgian passport holders use the Visa Waiver Program with a valid ESTA for tourist stays up to 90 days.
Canada. Visa-exempt travellers flying into or transiting through Canada need an eTA.
Mexico. Belgian nationals do not require a visa for visitor travel up to 180 days, and the official FMM form is part of the entry route.
A confirmed ticket is not a visa, and it does not guarantee admission to any host country. The US visa appointment-priority route for ticket holders runs through the official appointment system and remains subject to standard interview and approval. For the full ESTA, eTA and FMM guide for Belgian travellers, see the WC 2026 visa and travel guide.
What about hospitality?
For fans looking at the premium segment, On Location is the exclusive official hospitality provider for WC 2026. Packages include premium seating, lounge access, catering and a dedicated entry experience.
Three product formats are publicly available:
Single Match packages. Starting at USD 1,350 per person, covering one specific match.
Venue Series packages. Starting at USD 8,275 per person, covering multiple matches at a single venue.
Follow My Team packages. Starting at USD 6,750 per person, covering multiple matches following a specific national side through the tournament.
For the full package breakdown, inclusion details and tier names (Pitchside Lounge, VIP, Trophy Lounge, Champions Club, Pavilion), see hospitality packages.
Plan your WC 2026 around the right official sources
Ticket prices per round Visa and travel guide
Napoleon Sports betting content: 21+. Play responsibly. stopoptijd.be.
Frequently asked questions
Are WC 2026 tickets still available?
Last-Minute Sales is the active phase and runs through 19 July. Inventory varies by match, kick-off time, venue and category. Availability changes daily on the official ticketing portal, so we do not claim that tickets are available or sold out at any given moment.
What is the cheapest official ticket?
The Supporter Entry Tier is confirmed at USD 60 for all 104 matches, including the final, in behind-the-goal locations only. Above that tier, prices vary by stage, category, demand and venue, and are not published as a static price grid.
Which currency do Belgian buyers pay in?
USD. Currency is set by buyer residency, so international buyers (including Belgian fans) are billed in US dollars regardless of which host country the match is played in. The EUR-USD exchange rate at payment moment plus any card-issuer foreign-transaction fee affect the final EUR cost.
Can I resell a ticket I no longer need?
Yes, through the official resale and exchange marketplace. Listings can be created up to one hour before kick-off, with a 15% resale fee. There is no guarantee a listed ticket will sell. Resale above face value through unofficial channels is prohibited under Belgian consumer law.
What happens if a match is cancelled?
If a match is cancelled and not rescheduled, refunds are automatic under the cancellation policy. Match relocation or rescheduling triggers a specific notice with refund or exchange options; a seat relocation within the same or equivalent category does not normally create a refund right.
Do I need a visa if I have a ticket?
A ticket is not a visa and does not replace entry requirements. Belgian travellers need an ESTA for the United States, an eTA for Canada, and use the FMM form for Mexico. The full breakdown sits on the WC 2026 visa and travel guide.
Explore more WC 2026 content
This tickets hub sits inside the wider WC 2026 library at Napoleon Sports.
Ticket information based on official sources, last checked June 2026. Napoleon Sports betting content: licensed by the Belgian Gaming Commission. Minimum age 21 for betting. Need a break? See stopoptijd.be for free, confidential support.