Wednesday marks a milestone in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, as the first presale draw for tickets opens.

The presale will mark the beginning of a multi-phase process that will gradually see more tickets released for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

With 48 teams and 104 matches, the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest yet, taking place across 16 host cities (two in Canada, three in Mexico, and 11 in the United States).

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the first phase of ticket sales.

Phase One - Visa Presale Draw

The process begins on Wednesday Sept. 10, when FIFA opens the Visa Presale Draw period at 11 a.m. ET.

This is only open to holders of a Visa credit card, debit card or prepaid card. Why? Because Visa is an official partner of the FIFA World Cup, of course.

The presale period will close at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 19. There will be no priority for fans who apply first, so nobody will have to furiously refresh their browser at 10:59 a.m. on Wednesday.

Anyone wishing to purchase tickets will have to create a “FIFA ID,” which they will eventually use to purchase tickets through FIFA's official platform.

Fans who apply for tickets through the Visa Presale Draw will be entered into a lottery, with the winners notified via email starting on Sept. 29. Those fans will be given a date and time slot to purchase tickets, which they can do beginning on Oct. 1.

Group-stage tickets will start at $60, but prices are expected to climb much higher. Tickets to all 104 games, including the final, will be available initially.

FIFA will use dynamic pricing for World Cup tickets, meaning prices will rise or fall depending on demand.

Phase Two - Early Ticket Draw

For fans who don't have a Visa card or those who just want to wait, the second phase of the ticket-buying process will take place from Oct. 27-31.

This will essentially be the same process as phase one, but without the need to use a Visa card. Fans will use their FIFA ID and be entered into a randomized lottery. Winners will be given time slots to purchase tickets from mid-November to early December.

Phase Three - Random Selection Draw

The third phase will begin shortly after the World Cup Draw, which is set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.

During phase three, fans will be able to submit applications for specific matchups after the draw determines the teams for all 72 group-stage games.

Fans purchasing tickets before the draw won't know the teams involved, unless they are buying tickets for group-stage matches involving the United States, Canada or Mexico.

As the World Cup gets closer, fans will be able to buy any remaining inventory on a first-come, first-served basis.

FIFA will also launch an official resale platform for eligible ticket holders at FIFA.com/tickets later this year. The idea is to counter third-party resale sites, offering guaranteed tickets without capping markups (except for fans in Mexico).

For more information on 2026 World Cup tickets, visit FIFA's FAQ section.

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: World Cup 2026 tickets: What to know as first presale begins

Reporting by Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire / Pro Soccer Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect