Cape Town – Bafana Bafana made the nation proud by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first appearance since hosting the prestigious tournament in 2010 — after finishing top of their qualifying group.
The 2026 edition will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The tournament kicks off on 11 June and will conclude with the final on 19 July.
According to FIFA, a total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities and stadiums — the highest number since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Cities Hosting the tournament
USA: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey
Canada: Toronto and Vancouver.
Variable Pricing
According to the World Cup Guide, FIFA has confirmed that it will implement a ‘variable pricing’ system, meaning ticket prices may fluctuate throughout the sales phases based on demand and availability for each match.
- Manual price adjustments between sales phases
- Human decision-makers reviewing demand and availability
- Adjusting prices up or down based on this review
- But not 24/7 automated algorithms making the changes
Here is the breakdown of how much the ticket prices will cost in rands.
- Mexico Opener
- Category 1: ZAR 34,675
- Category 2: ZAR 24,510
- Category 3: ZAR 14,155
- Category 4: ZAR 7,030
- Canada Opener
- Category 1: ZAR 33,155
- Category 2: ZAR 23,560
- Category 3: ZAR 13,585
- Category 4: ZAR 6,745
- U.S. Opener
- Category 1: ZAR 51,965
- Category 2: ZAR 36,860
- Category 3: ZAR 21,280
- Category 4: ZAR 10,640
- Group Stage Matches
- Category 1: ZAR 6,555 – ZAR 15,295
- Category 2: ZAR 4,940 – ZAR 11,495
- Category 3: ZAR 2,280 – ZAR 5,320
- Category 4: ZAR 1,140 – ZAR 2,660
- Third Place Match
- Category 1: ZAR 19,000
- Category 2: ZAR 13,585
- Category 3: ZAR 6,840
- Category 4: ZAR 3,135
- Final Match
- Category 1: ZAR 121,030
- Category 2: ZAR 53,010
- Category 3: ZAR 38,570
- Category 4: ZAR 24,510
To purchase the tickets, you can visit the official FIFA website or purchase from reseller’s like Viagogo.
Flight tickets Per Person
According to Cheapflights, a return trip from Cape Town to the United States ranges between R17 334 and R32 069. Flights to Mexico range from R24 903 to R58 641, while travel to Canada is priced between R19 441 and R59 957.
A return trip from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to the United States ranges from R15 620 to R28 210. Flights to Mexico are priced between R22 556 and R51 281, while travel to Canada ranges from R17 804 to R54 678.
How to Buy FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Step 1: Register Your Interest
Visit FIFA.com/tickets immediately to register your interest and create a FIFA ID.
Step 2: Visa Presale (September 10-19, 2025)
Only Visa cardholders can participate in the first ticket draw. Register during this window for early access.
Step 3: General Sales Phases
Multiple ticket release phases will follow, with full details announced closer to each phase.
Note:
- Visa will be the exclusive payment method during initial sales phases.
- FIFA.com/tickets is the only official source for legitimate tickets.
- Beware of unofficial resellers and inflated prices. Tickets do not guarantee entry to host countries – check visa requirements separately.
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
