Tickets for the 2027 World Cup aren't being sold first-come, first-served. Instead there's a ballot, which opened on 1 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 South African time on 21 November 2026 (3:29 AM IST on 22 November).
The short version
- It's free to enter.
- Request up to four tickets per match.
- Entering early gives no advantage. Every entry in the window counts equally.
- If a match is oversubscribed, a random draw decides who gets tickets.
- If you're successful, you get an email and a set time to pay.
Why a ballot?
Big matches such as India v Pakistan would crash a normal on-sale. A ballot spreads demand out and means a fan in Lahore, Leeds or Lucknow has the same chance as someone in Johannesburg.
Tactics that help
You can't game a random draw. But you can improve your odds of seeing your team by spreading your requests. Pair one or two blockbuster matches with fixtures at bigger grounds or on weekdays. For India fans, the group games against Afghanistan (Centurion, 14 October) and Qualifier A (Bloemfontein, 17 October) are likely to be less oversubscribed than the Australia and Pakistan games.
Scams to avoid
Every major tournament attracts fraudsters. Be suspicious of:
- Social media accounts or WhatsApp groups "selling" World Cup tickets now. The ballot hasn't even been drawn.
- Anyone charging a fee to enter the ballot for you, or promising guaranteed seats.
- Websites with addresses that look almost like the official one.
Use only the official ticketing website, and type the address in yourself. Our tickets guide has the full walkthrough.