FIFA confirms record number of World Cup ticket requests

Leading the charts for the highest number of requests was Russia, with some 2.5 million, followed by Germany (338,000) and Argentina (186,000).

Leading the charts for the highest number of requests was Russia, with some 2.5 million, followed by Germany (338,000) and Argentina (186,000).

World football’s governing body FIFA on Wednesday closed its initial phase of ticket requests for the upcoming World Cup in Russia, with a record 4.9 million applications recorded since early December.

Leading the charts for the highest number of requests was Russia, with some 2.5 million, followed by Germany (338,000) and Argentina (186,000), according to FIFA data, which showed that 49 per cent of tickets were being asked for outside the host country.

Around mid-March, a lottery is to be held to see which of the millions of potential ticket buyers will be able to see their favourite international teams battle it out in stadiums across western Russia from June 14 to July 15.

A second round of ticket-buying is to open on March 13.