This phase is essentially a lottery designed to indicate the approximate number of people willing to attend the games. The rules are simple: register on FIFA’s website and apply for a ticket no later than Oct. 12. Successful applicants, who obtain the right to buy their tickets, will be selected at random.
Self-assured fans, those not afraid to risk seeing the match for their favorite team sold out, can skip the lottery and buy tickets on a first-come first-served basis starting Nov. 16. The second phase of the sales, which starts Dec. 5, will be done in a similar manner.
All tickets purchased during the first two sales will be delivered free of charge in May 2018, several weeks before the tournament, which starts on June 14 and runs to July 15. The tournament will comprise 64 matches taking place at 12 venues in 11 cities in Russia.
Russia Beyond is now compiling a comprehensive guide for FIFA World Cup fans. Follow us for more information on the tournament.