At 15 crore, FIFA World Cup 2026 shatters ticket demand records

FIFA World Cup 2026: FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that they are set to make history, after more than 150 million ticket requests were received from over 200 countries for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, according to Goal.com.FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, citing strong demand and the significant revenue they generate for football globally, according to a report by Reuters.In an Instagram post, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shared: "The 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest and most inclusive show on the planet! Over 150 million tickets were requested in just the first 15 days, making this edition 30 times oversubscribed, a true testament to the incredible demand from fans across more than 200 countries."He further added: "The Random Selection Draw Sales Phase will remain open until 13 January 2026 at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET), with all requests processed randomly, so no advantage is given based on timing. Some tickets will also be reserved for later sales phases, while Participating Member Associations (PMAs) will offer tickets to their supporters until 13 January 2026, following their own guidelines."Dubai to host FIFA best awards 2026, celebrating top players and coachesDubai has been announced as the host city for next year’s FIFA Best Awards ceremony, according to a report by Reuters. The awards, organized by football’s global governing body, recognize the finest achievements in men’s and women’s football, honoring the best players, coaches, and teams as voted by fans, media representatives, national team captains, and coaches.FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his excitement about the partnership and the choice of Dubai, saying, “I can announce here a new partnership we have closed together to honour the best players, coaches, and teams, here in Dubai. We have enjoyed the sport, and now we will enjoy even more the unity the sport brings to the entire world.”In the 2025 edition of the awards, France forward Ousmane Dembele was named men’s player of the year, while Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the women’s player award, highlighting the global talent recognised by FIFA each year.The event in Dubai is expected to draw football fans and dignitaries from around the world, celebrating excellence both on and off the pitch.The 2026 World Cup will introduce a new format, featuring 48 teams for the first time. These teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32, according to a report by ANI.