TASHKENT, January 17. / “Dunyo” IA /. The popular sports portal "The Athletic" has published an article about record-breaking demand for tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reports “Dunyo” IA.

According to the publication, over the month-long ticket application period, which ended on Tuesday, more than 500 million requests were submitted. The application window opened shortly after the December World Cup draw and the release of the match schedule. Fans were able to apply for tickets for specific games, in designated categories, and at fixed prices.

In February, FIFA will conduct a random draw for each of the 104 matches of the tournament, with tickets allocated to the selected applicants. Previously, in October and November, the organization had already sold around 2 million tickets before the official schedule was confirmed. Overall, approximately 4–5 million tickets remain available for the tournament.

As the article notes, more than 500 million requests — each of which could include one to four tickets — indicate unprecedented global interest in the 2026 World Cup. At the same time, the organization emphasizes that demand may vary significantly depending on the specific matches.

It should be noted that the 2026 World Cup will be historic for Uzbekistan, as the national football team has qualified for the tournament for the first time in its history.

Furthermore, leading international media outlets have widely covered this historic achievement of the Uzbek national team, highlighting that participation in the World Cup will undoubtedly inspire even more young people in Uzbekistan to pursue football.