The FIFA World Cup 2026 has sparked unprecedented global interest, with around 150 million ticket requests submitted within the first half of the current Random Selection Draw ticketing phase.

According to figures released by FIFA, fans from more than 200 countries have already applied for tickets since the phase opened on December 11, making the tournament oversubscribed by a factor of roughly 30.

The demand, based on verified individual credit card entries, far exceeds the available ticket inventory at this early stage and has surpassed interest recorded at any previous World Cup.

The 2026 edition, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is shaping up to be the most ambitious in the competition’s history. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the overwhelming response as a powerful reflection of football’s universal appeal.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the greatest and most inclusive show on the planet, with more than 150 million tickets already requested in only the first 15 days, making this edition 30 times oversubscribed,” Infantino said.
“This incredible demand from fans in over 200 countries truly shows how loved our game is globally. We are going to make history in North America as we bring the world together like never before.”

The scale of interest already places the 2026 tournament in rare territory, with ticket demand exceeding several times the cumulative attendance of all World Cup matches played since the competition began in 1930.

Set to feature an expanded 48-team format, the tournament will include 104 matches across 16 host cities in the three host nations, marking a significant evolution in the World Cup’s structure and global footprint.

The current Random Selection Draw ticketing phase will remain open until January 13, and FIFA has stressed that all valid applications carry equal weight regardless of when they are submitted.

Fans who miss out in this round will still have further opportunities, as additional ticket sales phases are expected ahead of the tournament’s opening match on June 11, 2026.

With demand already reaching historic levels, the countdown to World Cup 2026 is well underway, reinforcing its status as one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of all time.

 

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Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo attended an extravagant White House state dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), marking his first known appearance on American soil since 2016.

The event, attended by top business leaders, tech icons, and sports figures, also featured Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, with Ronaldo and his fiancée Georgina Rodriguez even posing for a selfie with Musk.

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged Ronaldo’s presence during his remarks, noting that his youngest son, Barron, is a huge fan of the Al-Nassr and Portugal striker. Trump joked that the meeting had earned him extra respect from his son:

“You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo. And Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you. So I just want to thank you both for being here. Really an honour.”

Great night! pic.twitter.com/XfdC9bJqP4

— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) November 19, 2025

Ronaldo attended alongside some of the world’s most influential figures, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as part of the black-tie dinner aimed at strengthening U.S.–Saudi relations.

His appearance highlights his role as a global ambassador for Saudi sports and diplomatic investments.

The Portuguese captain recently missed Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Armenia due to suspension, following his first-ever international red card against the Republic of Ireland.

Despite this, Trump singled out Ronaldo for special recognition during his speech.

Earlier, Ronaldo had sent Trump a signed jersey with the message: “To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.” He commented on the gesture:

“He is one of the guys who can help to change the world. One of the most important guys is the U.S. President. If we can help each other to make this happen… I wish one day to meet him, whether it is here, or in the U.S., wherever he wants. I know he was here in Saudi Arabia with our boss, MBS.”

The gathering underscored Ronaldo’s unique position at the intersection of sports, diplomacy, and global influence, making him a prominent figure not just on the pitch but in international affairs.

.@POTUS: “My son is a big fan of @Cristiano… Barron got to meet him and I think he respects his father a little bit more now.” 🤣 https://t.co/uLPY84DHcu pic.twitter.com/nmOQotP9I9

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 19, 2025

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In a groundbreaking move, FIFA has announced plans to introduce a halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final, rivalling the iconic Super Bowl spectacle.

The show, set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026, will feature a star-studded lineup, with Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid tipped as potential headliners.

According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the organization is already deep into preparations for the show, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey playing a key role in curating the lineup. “I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey,” Infantino announced on Instagram. “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”

The introduction of a halftime show follows the success of the NFL Super Bowl’s performances, which have drawn record-breaking audiences.

The 2026 World Cup final could be a watershed moment for African music, with Afrobeats stars poised to represent the genre on the world’s biggest stage. “We also spoke about how FIFA will takeover Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, during both the bronze final match and final,” Infantino added.

“These will be two incredible matches, featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City. I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalise the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square.”

 

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The global explosion of Afrobeats has already seen Nigerian superstars shine on the world’s biggest stages. Davido became the first Nigerian to perform at the FIFA World Cup in 2022, while Burna Boy made history in 2023 by becoming the first African artist to perform at the UEFA Champions League final halftime show. With their star power and global appeal, Afrobeats megastars are prime candidates to represent the genre at the 2026 World Cup halftime show.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup after being the only nation to finalize a bid.

Australia earlier said that they would not make a bid to host the event, with FIFA subsequently admitting that Saudi Arabia’s application was the only one on the table.

Infantino has now turned to social media to declare Saudi Arabia as the 2034 hosts.

“The bidding processes were approved by consensus via the FIFA Council – where all six confederations are represented – after constructive dialogue and extensive consultation,” he wrote. “Thank you to everyone who has participated in this positive exchange.

“Football unites the world like no other sport, and the FIFA World Cup is the perfect showcase for a message of unity and inclusion, as well as providing an important illustration of how different cultures can be together and can learn and better understand one another.

“As we live in an increasingly divided and aggressive world, we show once again that football, the leading global sport, unites like nothing else. We all need these occasions of unity and the upcoming FIFA World Cups provide a unique force for good in this respect.”

North America will host the tournament in 2026, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico splitting hosting responsibilities.

After four years, World Cup fans will likely see the most distinctive hosting in the tournament’s history. The event will be overseen by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, although three championship games will take place in South America. Each of Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will get one game.

“Three editions, five continents and ten countries involved in staging matches in the tournament – that’s making football truly global!” Infantino added.

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A FIFA anti-racism committee will be led by Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid in an effort to increase player participation on the subject of prejudice in football.

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, promised that FIFA would collaborate with prosecutors in various nations to better enforce criminal punishments and advocate for stiffer sporting penalties.

Infantino continued by saying that he had invited Vinicius, the subject of 10 incidents this season that were reported to prosecutors, to lead a team of athletes who will cooperate with the governing body.

 Speaking to Reuters, Infantino said: “There will be no more football with racism in it. The games should be stopped immediately when it happens. Enough is enough. We need to hear the players and what they need to work in a safer environment. We are very serious about it.

“We will implement very blunt and strong punishments to end once and for all with the problem of racism in football. We can’t tolerate racism anymore. As president of FIFA, I feel I needed to talk personally with Vinicius about it.”

The insults Vinicius endured at many La Liga venues over the past year has brought racism to the forefront of public discourse.

There is some optimism that something constructive might be possible now that the league and the Spanish Football Federation have both pledged their support for the player.

The might of football’s world governing body and the assistance of elite players should speed up the procedure even more.

Vinicius is anticipated to play in Saturday’s exhibition match between Brazil and Guinea.

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Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has expressed his “full solidarity” with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who endured more racial taunts during his team’s La Liga match against Valencia.

Vinicius called out the league on Sunday night, saying it now “belongs to racists” after previously experiencing racist insults on many occasions in La Liga this season.

“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga,” he said.

“The competition thinks it’s normal, the Federation does too and the opponents encourage it. I’m so sorry. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi today belongs to racists. A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.”

Gianni Infantino expressed his support for Vinicius Junior while denouncing the racist taunts and using the occasion to advocate for the implementation of FIFA’s three-step procedure for handling such situations in all leagues world.

“Full solidarity to Vinicius,” he said. “There is no place for racism in football or in society and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. Events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid show that this needs to be the case.

“That is why the three-step process exists in FIFA competitions and it is recommended at all levels of football. Firstly, you stop the match, you announce it. Secondly, the players leave the pitch and the speaker announces that if the attacks continue, the match will be suspended. The match restarts, and then, thirdly, if the attacks continue, the match will stop and the three points will go to the opponent.

“These are the rules that should be implemented in all countries and in all leagues. Clearly, this is easier said than done, but we need to do it and we need to support it through education.”

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Gianni Infantino won re-election as FIFA president until 2027 after facing no challengers during the organization’s conference on Thursday.

As he urged for more football to be played throughout the world, Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president on Thursday at the 73rd Congress in Kigali. He made a record income pledge of $11 billion for the upcoming four-year cycle.

Infantino faced no opposition, which made his re-election as the head of football’s governing body a formality. Yet, member associations may not always see Infantino favorably for a variety of reasons, including his support for the World Cup’s unsuccessful attempt to be held every two years.

“It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility,” Infantino said. “I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world.

“To those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who hate me … I love you all.”

Infantino acknowledged that FIFA’s revenue reached record highs in the previous cycle of 2019–22, but he pledged to significantly increase it once again as a result of the expansion of the men’s and women’s World Cup competitions and the addition of a 32-team Club World Cup.

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“Revenues rose to a record $7.5 billion (to 2022) in a period that was hit by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around $1 billion, today they are at almost $4 billion,” Infantino said.

“We promise new record revenues for the next cycle of $11 billion, and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so it could increase by a couple of billion (more).”

Infantino stated that FIFA will keep reviewing the transfer process to “increase transparency” and hinted that the group may propose a wage ceiling.

“We must improve our regulations and the FIFA statues. We will continue to evolve our good governance principles and look at the transfer system, and maybe have a discussion to improve transparency of transfer fees and salaries.

“It might be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think how we can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what we can do.”

Following Sepp Blatter’s departure in 2016, Infantino was initially chosen at an Extraordinary Congress, and he was re-elected without opposition three years later.

Yet since this is technically his second term, he will be eligible for a third and final term in four years.

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For its enlarged edition, which will begin in 2025, FIFA may utilize current Champions League performances to decide Club World Cup qualifying.

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, stated that the Club World Cup will expand to 32 teams starting in 2025 at the World Cup in 2022.

In a report in The Times, it has been revealed that the governing body may take into consideration recent performances in the Champions League to determine the 12 European clubs that will participate in the expanded edition.

Out of the 12 spots, eight will be filled via coefficient rankings, while the remaining four would be awarded to Champions League winners from 2022-25. Only two places per football association would be allocated, which could increase to four including the Champions League winners.

FIFA, UEFA, and the European Club Association are currently debating the current qualification method. The Global Leagues Forum and the Premier League, on the other hand, have reportedly expressed disagreement with FIFA on the enlarged tournament because the global organization has not spoken with them.

The next edition of the seven-team Club World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia in December.

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Following Pele’s death, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the football’s governing body will ask every country in the globe to name one of its football stadiums after Pele.

The three-time World Cup winner and national hero from Brazil passed away on December 29 at the age of 82 following a battle with cancer.

At Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium, where Pele spent the majority of his legendary career, a 24-hour memorial wake is being conducted for him on Monday and Tuesday.

Infantino is currently in Brazil to pay his respects to Pele and told journalists that FIFA wants all its member nations to name – or, indeed, rename – one of their stadiums after the footballing legend.

‘Pele leaves an incredibly legacy for football, a unique legacy,’ he told reporters as he made his way inside the Vila Belmiro stadium.

‘Pele had, I think, the gift of god – a gift that very few people on earth have – and it’s a gift to touch the hearts and emotions of people.

‘The fact that so many people around the world, millions, billions even, like me who have never seen Pele play, remember him. I have, of course, the honour and the luck to meet him personally as well.

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‘But I did not see him play, my father saw him play and he would speak to me about him. I think the legacy that he leaves for what he did on the pitch [is huge].

‘He was the first in doing so many things that 99% of players can only dream about and the other 1% can only do one of the things that he was doing. And he was the first doing all these things.

‘So this will remain in our hearts forever. And we need to make sure that we and the world of football remembers Pele forever as well.

‘And for this reason of course we pay tribute to him by being here. We pay tribute to him by asking all the federations now to pay a minute of silence and tribute to Pele.

‘But we are also going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.

‘In 50 years or 100 years from now, when children are asking, “Who is Pele?” they need to remember him all over the world in a place where you score goals, where you feel emotions, in a stadium, in a football field, where children – boys and girls – can play. We need to make sure of this.’

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The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has proposed hosting the World Cup every three years, in his latest plan to shake up international football.

FIFA have already failed in their attempt to play the World Cup every two years, a change championed by Arsene Wenger, with European and South American organisations UEFA and CONMEBOL voting it down.

They might also wish to stop Infantino’s fresh suggestion because, according to the Daily Mail, he intends to implement the three-year program within the next ten years.

According to reports, Asia and Africa are in favour of the new plan, but Infantino will need help from Europe and South America to get it approved.

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After the Qatar World Cup’s tremendous commercial success, the Italian who is in charge of FIFA is full of confidence in his ability to bring about change.

The event generated a record £6.2 billion in revenue, outpacing Russia’s 2018 earnings by £840 million.

Infantino also thinks that moving the tournament to the winter in Europe won’t be a one-off, and he intends to restructure the schedule following the 2030 World Cup.

Infantino has already been the head of FIFA since 2016, but it was recently decided that he is still in his first term, set to begin a second term in March, which could allow him to stay in charge until 2031 if he completes the maximum three terms in the role.

On Saturday he said: ‘The clarification with regards to my term of office. So currently I am in my first term of office and on March 16 when there is the election for the FIFA president in Kigali in Rwanda, my second term of office as FIFA president will start. There is a limit of three terms.’

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FIFA, the world governing body of football, has confirmed the next host for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023, announcing that Morocco will host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023.

Morocco will host the next Club World Cup in February 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Friday, while the planned expanded version of the competition is now set to start in 2025.

The tournament will take place from February 1 to 11, 2023, Infantino told reporters at a press conference in Doha, as it returns to Morocco for the third time.

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On Friday, December 16th, 2022, the FIFA official Twitter account made the announcement. Following the triumph of the team at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, this is fantastic news for Africa and Morocco.

The North Africans stunned the world by winning the most lucrative FIFA competition. Morocco will go down in history as the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The competition is for football clubs that have won continental trophies. Chelsea Football Club won the previous edition, which was held in Qatar.

Confirmed ✅

The FIFA Council has announced that Morocco will host the 2022 #ClubWC! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/y6p0EBYovP

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) December 16, 2022

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced a new 32-team Club World Cup which will replicate the international tournament in a move that is sure to divide fans that will start in 2025.

At his final press conference in Qatar, FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed a new 32-team Club World Cup that will be an exact replica of the international competition.

The replacement competition will begin in 2025 with the same number of participating teams as the 2022 World Cup, four years after the first schedule was cancelled due to the pandemic.

With the 2022 Club World Cup slated to take place in Morocco in February of 2023 with the customary seven teams, a women’s Club World Cup will also be introduced. No other information was provided.

FIFA established the Club World Cup in 2000, and seven teams have participated in each of the past 15 seasons, with the Champions League champions making it all the way to the semifinals each year.

It is contested by the winners of the Asian AFC Champions League, African CAF Champions League, North, Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF Champions League, South American CONMEBOL Libertadores, Oceania’s OFC Champions League and UEFA Champions League winners of the previous season – as well as the reigning national champions of the host nation.

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Recall, Back in 2016 when Infantino first suggested the expansion, saying it would be more attractive to broadcasters and sponsors.

Shortly before Infantino’s announcement, the Mail reported that Europe’s elite clubs rejected a proposal for the expansion.

A tournament in the United States was reportedly planned, and the source stated that FIFA might provide £150 million in prize money as an incentive.

Since the competition’s inception, Manchester United in 2008, Liverpool in 2019, and Chelsea in 2018 have all won the title of Club World Champions in their respective sports.

Another FIFA idea that has drawn criticism is their intention for the 2026 World Cup, which would be held by the United States, Canada, and Mexico as part of a joint bid, to feature 16 groups of three teams.

With FIFA currently in talks about keeping with four-team groups, it would mean that 16 teams would only play two games at the tournament and a further knockout round would be added.

One of their ideas included holding penalty shootouts following tied group stage games to ensure there were no drawn games.

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