World Cup demand shocks FIFA
Early surge overwhelms ticket system
Interest in the upcoming men’s World Cup has surged dramatically within weeks of tickets becoming available. According to comments from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demand has reached levels rarely seen in international sport.
Speaking in remarks shared by The Touchline, Infantino said FIFA released between six and seven million tickets during the opening sales phase. In just over two weeks, fans submitted an estimated 150 million ticket requests, a figure that reflects applications rather than confirmed sales.
The volume of interest highlights how competitive the process has become for supporters hoping to attend matches.
Daily demand highlights global reach
Infantino explained that the numbers translate into roughly 10 million ticket requests every day during the first 15 days of sales. According to FIFA, the requests came from fans across multiple continents, reinforcing the tournament’s worldwide appeal.
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He described the scale of demand as evidence of the World Cup’s enduring influence, even at a stage when qualifying competitions are still ongoing and teams have yet to be finalized.
World cup history puts numbers in perspective
To illustrate the scale of the current interest, Infantino compared the figures with historical data. According to FIFA records, approximately 44 million tickets have been sold across all World Cup tournaments over nearly 100 years.
By contrast, the number of ticket requests submitted in just two weeks represents several times that historical total, underscoring how digital ticketing and global access have transformed fan engagement.
A comparison meant to capture the moment
Infantino used a striking analogy to explain the magnitude of the demand, suggesting that the recent surge could theoretically fill centuries worth of World Cup tournaments if each request were honored.
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The comparison was intended to emphasize how extraordinary the current interest is, rather than to suggest any change to tournament scheduling or capacity.
Pressure builds as anticipation grows
According to The Touchline’s reporting of Infantino’s remarks, FIFA sees the early ticket rush as a sign of intense anticipation well ahead of kickoff. The organization now faces the challenge of managing expectations among fans while ensuring a fair and transparent allocation process.
As preparations continue, the unprecedented demand serves as a reminder of the World Cup’s unique position in global sport and the logistical pressures that come with hosting an event of such scale.
Sources, The Touchline, FIFA
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