Visa, FIFA's official payment services partner, announced that its cardholders will have exclusive priority access to the first ticket lottery for the FIFA World Cup 2026, running from September 10 to 19. Selected fans will be notified starting September 30 and given October time slots to purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. During this presale, Visa will be the only accepted payment method. FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai urged fans to circle the date: «A World Cup ticket is not just entry to a match, but to the most inclusive and spectacular tournament in history». The 2026 edition will mark a historic first: 48 teams, 104 matches across 39 days, played in 16 host cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Highlighting the region's connection to the tournament, Leila Serhan, Visa's Senior VP for North Africa, the Levant, and Pakistan, said: «From Pakistan, where the official ball is made, to Morocco's unforgettable journey in Qatar in 2022, our region is deeply woven into the DNA of this World Cup. This is our moment to shine».
