Chances are you’re reading this because the FIFA ticket lottery didn’t go your way. If it makes you feel any better—you’re not alone.

More than 500 million ticket requests were submitted for roughly 7 million available seats. For the math people out there, the odds were incredibly slim. However, just because the lottery didn’t go your way doesn’t mean your World Cup seats are out of the picture. In this article, we will discuss the alternative routes to securing a ticket and the red flags to watch out for when purchasing them.

Phase one way to find a ticket is the "Last-Minute" Sales Phase. FIFA holds one final "First Come, First Served" sale beginning in early April. In this phase, tickets are sold in real-time. There is no random draw; if you see a ticket available and you can complete the checkout before someone else, it is yours.

This is a great way to get a ticket directly from the box office, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It involves waiting in digital queues for hours, and inventory often sells out in minutes. So, while it is certainly worth a shot, there is no guarantee you will secure the experience of a lifetime.

There are two additional ways to purchase directly from FIFA.

FIFA Marketplace: a ticket resale platform, directly a part of FIFA, mediating the peer to peer ticket sales. Once a ticket is purchased through this method the ticket will show up in the FIFA World Cup 2026 app closer to game time.

The major setbacks to this method are the payment processing fees. When buying on this platform there is a 15% fee taxed to the seller and to the buyer (30% total).

FIFA Collect: This is where things get a little complicated. Unlike the standard ticket office, this platform uses blockchain technology to sell Right-to-Ticket (RTT) collectibles. When you buy an RTT on the FIFA Collect Marketplace, you are purchasing a digital asset that serves as a 1:1 voucher for a specific match seat. Its important to note that the price of the seat is included in the cost of the collectible.

The caveat to this is that once the collectible is purchased the process isn’t over. From here the user needs to convert their collect into a ticket during the conversion window, either in June or May.

So this option is more complex, yet doable for someone who understands the process.

For those of you looking for a guaranteed ticket to your favorite team's game—the secondary market is the way to go.

In the United States, the secondary market serves as a major and legally recognized hub for international fans to bypass sell-out events, offering a reliable, though often premium-priced, way to secure tickets that are otherwise unavailable through standard international lotteries.

From season ticket holders at the host stadiums to lucky lottery winners, many people who can’t attend the event are already listing their tickets on secondary platforms. These platforms include—but are not limited to—StubHub, Ticketmaster, and OnlySoccerTickets.com.

For those who can afford it, buying on the secondary market takes the luck out of the equation. Though 70% of tickets on the secondary market sell for at or below face value. The 2026 World cup will have many deals on the secondary market as we get closer to the matches, especially for the group stage. But don’t expect to see ticket discounts on the knockout rounds.

A tournament spanning 16 cities across 3 nations with 48 teams is a massive logistical challenge. Specialized sites like OnlySoccerTickets.com, unlike other secondary market sites such as stubhub, are designed to make this easy, allowing you to browse specifically by Team, Group, Schedule, or Tournament Stage so you find exactly what you need without the headache.

Now, what should you avoid in the dynamic ticket marketplace of the 2026 World Cup?

Historically, the secondary market has attracted some bad actors, though now a days it is extremely safe if you follow the right precautions. If a private ticket seller asks for your Venmo or Zelle they can easily ghost you or send a screenshot of a fake ticket that won’t work at the stadium entrance. So never give someone this information when buying a ticket. It will be a good sign it is a scam. That said, with the right secondary market the ticket buying process is extremely safe. And why it is so important to stick to the marketplaces. 

The Solution: A 100% Guarantee To avoid this, you must stick to platforms that prioritize safety. Most major platforms like Stubhub, Seatgeek have this guarantee. And here at OnlySoccerTickets, we stand behind every sale with a 100% Guarantee.

The Pledge: We promise that your tickets will be legitimate and delivered before the event begins, or you get your money back. We know that finding a great seat means nothing if you are worried about it being real. Our guarantee exists so you can focus on the match, not the transaction.

The Bottom Line: Choose a Partner, Not Just a Website

The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you shouldn't let an "Unsuccessful" lottery email ruin it. But because this event is so complex, you need a partner who is actually there to help.

We are here to help, whether you have questions about parking, transportation, where to stay, or even complex issues like insurance or ICE enforcement, we want to make it easy. We want you to make the right choice. If we aren't the best deal for you, don't worry—go elsewhere. But we invite you to come back to a specialist site that puts the fan first. The tickets are out there. Do your research, browse by your favorite team, and secure your spot in history with confidence.