FIFA Ticket Presale Launch Hits Tech Glitch, Fans Locked Out

Lead FIFA’s Visa-exclusive presale draw for 2026 World Cup tickets was marred by website crashes and error messages for thousands of fans on September 10, 2025, as the sales window opened worldwide.

Nut Graf The long-awaited first phase-open only to Visa cardholders entering a randomized lottery-was intended to manage overwhelming demand fairly. Instead, technical failures overshadowed the process, fueling criticism of FIFA’s digital infrastructure and raising concerns about equitable access ahead of the tournament.

Website Outage Disrupts Presale Launch

Entry opened at 11 a.m. ET but the official ticketing portal repeatedly crashed under heavy traffic, preventing many from completing their registration.
Users encountered “400 Error - Bad Request” and “Bad Gateway” messages after waiting in online queues for over an hour.

FIFA Clarifies Lottery Process

The presale draw remains open until 8 a.m. PT on September 19, with all entries across the window having equal chance for selection, FIFA spokesperson Alicia Diotte emphasized.
Successful applicants will receive a designated time slot beginning October 1 to purchase tickets for any of the 104 matches on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fan Reactions on Social Media

Frustrated supporters flooded X, Instagram and Facebook with complaints about inaccessible pages and lost chances to register.
Some fans urged FIFA to extend the Visa-only entry period to compensate for downtime, while others praised peers who succeeded after lengthy waits.

What Fans Need to Know Now

Ensure a valid FIFA ID and Visa card are ready before reattempting registration.
Monitor official FIFA channels for updates on any potential extensions or technical fixes.
Remember that later sales phases-including a non-Visa lottery in late October and a first-come, first-served general sale in spring 2026-will offer additional opportunities.