World Cup 2026: How FIFA made millions from tickets before official release

Even before ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup officially opened to the public, FIFA had already generated millions of pounds through a controversial pre-sale scheme. The global governing body began offering digital tokens that granted buyers the “right to purchase” tickets — without actually including the tickets themselves.

According to The Athletic, FIFA began selling these tokens through its FIFA Collect platform last year. Thousands were made available at prices ranging from around £220 to £2,350, allowing buyers to skip the virtual queues and secure access to one or two tickets at a later date. Crucially, these tokens did not include the cost of the actual match tickets, which remain unconfirmed.

While buyers were promised access to specific fixtures, details such as seat location, category, and final prices were not disclosed. The tokens acted solely as early-access passes, offering no certainty beyond entry into an eventual sales phase.

Millions raised by FIFA for 2026 World Cup tickets — but little clarity

Data analysed by The Athletic suggests that over 30,000 of these tokens, dubbed “Purchase Rights,” have been sold, generating over £8m. Other estimates suggest total revenue may have surpassed £15m, with bundled sales tied to the 2025 Club World Cup and digital collectibles further inflating figures.

Exact numbers are difficult to verify, as some tokens were handed out through promotions or offered alongside other items. Nonetheless, FIFA Collect Info, a platform that tracks the project, estimates total earnings from token sales and digital goods to be close to £23m.

In total, the scheme promised access to 70,000 tickets—about 1% of the six million tickets FIFA intends to sell for the 104-match tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

2026 World Cup: FIFA Collect and the lack of transparency

The “Purchase Rights” tokens were not listed on FIFA’s official ticketing site, but rather on FIFA Collect, a separate digital platform developed in partnership with blockchain company Modex.

Between April and June this year, FIFA Collect ramped up activity, launching packages that bundled early ticket access with digital memorabilia. In June alone, over 5,000 packages were sold, with prices ranging from £220 for random group-stage fixtures to over £2,350 for the “Double Opening Glory” bundle—covering both the World Cup opener in Mexico City and the Club World Cup in Miami.

While some bundles included hopeful guarantees—such as a final ticket “if the United States qualify”—none provided a clear purchase timeline or pricing structure for the actual tickets.

Frustrated buyers and rising concerns

As the Club World Cup approached, complaints from token holders emerged. Despite initial claims that tickets would be available across categories, some buyers said they were only able to access the most expensive seats (Category 1). FIFA Collect later issued an apology, attributing the confusion to “updated guidance from FIFA Ticketing.”

Further frustration followed as many realised they could have bought cheaper tickets directly from Ticketmaster closer to matchday. Critics have also warned that the lack of control and transparency around the platform risks enabling ticket scalping.

In Mexico, demand for national team matches surged—one of the three host nations alongside the USA and Canada—prompting FIFA Collect to raise prices. Users accused the platform of “taking advantage of the Mexican community.”

The Athletic noted that Modex declined to comment on how pricing was determined or how revenues were shared between itself, FIFA, and any potential charities.

As anticipation for the 2026 World Cup builds, the early controversies around ticket access have raised serious questions about FIFA’s digital sales strategy and transparency with fans.

This article was originally published on Trivela.