Great job completing your FIFA ID registration. If you've made it this far, you've finally reachedthe starting line for the ticket lottery.
This article walks you through the pitch-side ticket lottery application process step by step, based on my own experience. These seats are for those who want to enjoy the full game experience up close.
(If you're unsure whether to go for pitch-side or goal-end seats, please checkthis article)
This guide is written with the assumption that you'll ask family or friends to help, so you can simply share this page with them and have them follow along.
The deadline is January 13, 2026, so be sure to finish before then!!（Even if you make a mistake,you can try again as many times as needed）
The lottery odds this time around are quite high overall.
Before we get into the steps, let me share the current situation. As of late December 2025,based on the information available, the lottery odds for this World Cup areapproximately 30x on averageas officially announced. This already surpasses the highest odds from the Qatar World Cup,"Argentina vs Mexico (approx. 28x)"(This time,the most popularMexico vs South Africa match odds are likely astronomical already... scary.) Scalper activity is clearly a factor this time around.
Pitch-side resale prices for the Netherlands match are expected to exceed face value. These are fairly sought-after tickets.
As mentioned in a previous blog post, Japan's popularity among the 48 countries is around the middle. Against a less popular opponent like Tunisia, there's a decent chance of winning even with a regular application. And even if you don't win, there's a good chance ofbuying at face value through the official resale later on.So definitely avoid asking others to help apply for the Tunisia match.(There's a risk of unsold tickets)
On the other hand, pitch-side seats for Japan vs Netherlands are quite popular. If you're serious about getting them,we suggest submitting multiple entries with help from family and friends. (*Note:If you win multiple lotteries and resell quickly, you should be able to make a profit. We plan to cover how to handle duplicate wins in a separate article.)
Visual Guide: The Lottery Application Process
From here, the steps are the same as in the pitch-side article. Please follow the same procedure.
Step 1: Go to the Lottery Application Screen
FIFA official websiteAfter signing in, when a card like this appears, press"View Details" .
Here the screen will switch to English. Do not worry about that.
On the English screen, Learn more(or a similar button) appears, press it again.
You will then be asked to enter your ID credentials that you created previously. Please log in.
If not much time has passed since creating your ID, you'll go straight to the one-time password screen. If enough time has passed, you'll see the email and password fields first (then the one-time password).
Then,
a notice will appear, but you can ignore it and press Continue to proceed.
You will then see the ticket selection screen.
For pitch-side seats, be sure to select Random Selection Draw.
Step 2: Choose a Match and Seat Category
After selecting Random Selection Draw, the match selection screen appears. Choose Japan vs Netherlands here. Once selected, seat categories will be shown. Tap the down arrow on your desired category and press Continue.
If you think "Since I'm going to Dallas, I want to see another match (England vs Croatia) too!", you can scroll down on this screen to select additional matches. Also, below Cat 3, you may see seats for wheelchair users and otheraccessible seatingoptions. Unless you have a specific need,be careful not to select these by mistake.
Step 3: Final Confirmation and Useful Options
On the confirmation screen, review your application details. You can also configure the following options.
Whether to Allow Downgrade Wins
If you'd accept Cat 2 or Cat 3 even if Cat 1 is not available, check the "Downgrade option." This is recommended for those who want to maximize their chances of winning.
Requesting Adjacent Seats for Multiple Groups
Example: 8 people (2 groups) who want to sit together.
Group A applies for 4 tickets -> Receives an application number
Group B applies for another 4 tickets, entering that number
If you're lucky, both groups may be assigned adjacent seats.However, this only works within the same match and category, so keep that in mind.For Cat 1, there's a special note: you can also select pitch-side seats. If you want goal-end, be sure to choose the correct option.
Step 4: Enter Payment Info and Submit
Finally, register your payment method for when you win.
About Credit Cards
General rule:Card must be in the applicant's name
Accepted cards: VISA / MasterCard
In prior World Cups, cards under a different name were sometimes processed, but to prevent issues,using a card in your own name is recommended. Once you've confirmed everything, check the confirmation box and press "Submit."
Application Complete!
Great job! Your lottery application is now complete.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email at your registered address. The email should contain your application number.
Now all you have to do is wait for the results. If you've prepared this far,it all comes down to luck and the number of entries. Fingers crossed for good results! Up next: how to get goal-end seats.
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