World Cup 2026 Group Stage Tickets

The upcoming FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, 2026 with an expanded pool of 48 competing nations. This is a significant increase of the 32 teams to have featured at each of the last seven editions of the tournament.

The increase in participants mean that there will now be 12 groups of four teams rather than eight groups of four teams. The 23rd edition of the World Cup will also be the first to be hosted by three countries – USA, Canada and Mexico.

In previous tournaments when there were only 16 participating nations, advancing from the group stage would see teams advance directly to the World Cup quarter-finals. Now, with 48 competitors, the Round of 32 will take place directly after the group stage.

Some big footballing nations have failed to qualify for the World Cup group stage in recent years, namely the Netherlands in 2018 and Italy in 2022.

Fans wanting to purchase tickets can do so with the help of SeatPick, where every purchase is backed by a minimum 100% ticket guarantee.

Buy World Cup Tickets with SeatPick

It's no secret that World Cup tickets are subject to incredibly high demand and are therefore extremely difficult to obtain. Those who fail to secure match tickets directly from FIFA, via the general sale, can turn to SeatPick for the best chance of buying tickets for World Cup games.

Whether you're looking for tickets to a specific match or just want to get an overview of the secondary market, our easy-to-use website is perhaps the most essential resource when it comes to resale ticket sales.

Compare prices and discover the best seats available, with only the most trusted providers to choose from. Every purchase made through SeatPick is covered by a 100% money-back guarantee, so why not check out our massive inventory of World Cup tickets today?

2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Stadiums

At SeatPick, you can see all the details relating to each stadium, including an interactive stadium seating plan, which outlines the cost of tickets in relevant areas of the venue. You can also see what's on sale, and we also offer support in order to aid your ticket-buying journey.

Below you can see all 16 host cities and stadiums being used to stage matches during the 2026 World Cup group stage:

World Cup Group Stage Memorable Moments

The group stage is the foremost part of the FIFA World Cup, which itself is the biggest sporting event on the planet. Billions of people tune in for the quadrennial showpiece, and there are many who wish to be there in person to witness all the action up close.

• Many will recall the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in which Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a “goal for all Africa” in the words of Peter Drury. The same tournament saw Ghana become the first African team to win a World Cup match on African soil.
• Four years later Netherlands were responsible for the biggest surprise of the World Cup group stage. Robin van Persie's diving header was the pick of the goals as Louis van Gaal's side recorded an emphatic 5-1 triumph over Spain, who were the World Cup holders at the time. The Spanish were ultimately eliminated at the group stage.
• Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick versus Spain in the 2018 World Cup group stage, resulting in a 3-3 draw between the two European heavyweights.
• More recently, Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their group opener at the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi gave La Albiceleste an early lead, though the Saudis netted on either side of half-time to earn a shock victory over the eventual champions.