How to Get World Cup Tickets Now That the Knockouts Are Here
The group stage is behind us and the 2026 World Cup is down to its knockout rounds. Sixteen matches remain between July 4 and the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — and the only safe way to buy a seat for any of them is FIFA's official ticketing site and its resale platform.
Listings on the resale platform come and go as fans return tickets, so availability for a given match can change several times a day. Here is how the process works and how to plan travel around a late purchase.
16 matches remain between July 4 and July 19
The round of 16 runs July 4–7 across the host cities, then the tournament narrows: quarter-finals July 9–11 at Gillette Stadium (Boston area), SoFi Stadium (Inglewood), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) and Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City); semi-finals July 14 in Arlington and July 15 in Atlanta; the third-place match July 18 in Miami; and the final July 19 in New Jersey. From July 9 onward, every remaining match is in the United States.
How FIFA's official resale platform works
Fans who cannot attend list their seats back through FIFA. When you buy, the ticket moves into your FIFA account and appears in the official ticketing app — nothing changes hands physically. Because listings depend on returns, check today's availability rather than relying on what you saw yesterday.
Why a printed World Cup ticket is a red flag
Admission in 2026 is by mobile ticket only. A paper printout, a forwarded PDF or a screenshot is not a transferable ticket, and sellers offering them outside stadiums or on social media are the most common source of fans turned away at the gate. If a ticket did not arrive through the FIFA app, it will not scan.
Sponsored
Frequently asked questions
- Can I still buy World Cup tickets in July 2026?
- Availability changes daily. FIFA's official resale platform lists seats returned by other fans, and new listings appear right up to matchday — check it each morning for the match you want rather than assuming it is sold out.
- Where do I buy tickets for the remaining matches?
- FIFA.com/tickets is the only official outlet. Tickets are mobile and delivered through FIFA's ticketing app, so anything printed or sent as a PDF by a third party should be treated as suspect.
- Which matches are left to buy?
- Sixteen in total: the round of 16 on July 4–7, quarter-finals on July 9–11 in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City, semi-finals on July 14 in Arlington and July 15 in Atlanta, the third-place match in Miami on July 18, and the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
- Is it safe to buy from street sellers or classified ads?
- No. Entry is by mobile ticket tied to a FIFA account, so a screenshot or printout from a stranger has a high chance of failing at the gate. Stick to the official resale platform.
- How late can I realistically plan a trip?
- Later than you might think. Knockout venues are fixed even though the teams playing in them change, so you can book flights and hotels to a city like Atlanta or Miami before you have a ticket in hand — refundable rates protect you if resale falls through.