Visa Cardholders Get Early Shot at FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets

Updated: February 9, 2026, 1:02pm CST

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Visa Early Access Window: How Ticket Buying Will Work
Final Thoughts

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If securing tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on your radar, you already know the odds aren’t exactly in your favor. However, a new Visa offer could quietly improve them.

Demand is massive, matches span 3 countries, and most fans expect to endure a long wait when trying to buy them during online sales. However, Visa is soon opening a limited early ticket access window, giving eligible cardholders a potentially easier path to lock down seats in U.S. host cities before general sales ramp up.

Here’s how it works and how you can increase your chances of buying these coveted tickets.

Visa Early Access Window: How Ticket Buying Will Work

From Thursday, February 12, through Tuesday, February 24, eligible Visa cardholders can purchase tickets before general public sales, available while supplies last. This isn’t a lottery or request phase. Tickets are sold first-come, first-served, meaning timing matters.

We came across this opportunity directly through our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card accounts, where the ticket access website is currently live in the Capital One Entertainment portal.

While the landing page is tied to those specific Capital One products, the offer is tied to Visa, so other Visa cardholders may be eligible depending on their card and account standing. You can visit FIFA’s website for more details.

Not every match or host city is included in this allotment, so availability will vary. While this Visa sale helps sidestep the standard public sales process, tickets still must be purchased with a credit card. That means you can’t redeem points or miles to secure World Cup tickets, though you can book other parts of your World Cup experience with points to save money.

The opportunity comes through Visa’s long-standing partnership with FIFA, which frequently includes reserved ticket allocations and payment exclusivity tied to major tournaments.

Hot Tip:

Whether you score tickets through this Visa access window or manage to grab seats another way, it pays to think about the trip logistics early. If you’re planning to travel around the U.S. or traverse the 3 host countries, consider booking refundable flights and hotels in advance. Host cities are expected to see sky-high price hikes as ticket holders start locking in their match dates.

Final Thoughts

Major sporting events always come with wild ticket pricing and serious competition, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup 26 is in a league of its own — arguably the toughest tournament in the world to secure seats for. This early access window offers eligible Visa cardholders a more direct route, but it’s still far from a guarantee. Inventory is limited, and once tickets are sold, third-party ticketing platforms will see prices rise.

For fans already mapping out a 2026 soccer trip, this may be one of the clearest opportunities to secure tickets before the full global rush kicks in.