Argentines are the top non-host nationality signing up to buy tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the organization has announced.

Over 1.5 million fans from 210 countries have signed up to the presale draw within 24 hours, President Gianni Infantino said.

Footie fans from the three host nations — Mexico, Canada and the US — occupy the top spots. But after them, demand from Argentines eager to catch their Albiceleste heroes has flooded the channels. 

There are even more requests from Argentina than from footballing powerhouses like Brazil, which has a population more than four times larger than Argentina’s, and the UK, Spain, and Germany, which are more affluent than Argentina and whose citizens do not require visas to enter the U.S.

According to 2026 World Cup COO Heimo Schirgi, the demand for tickets is “a testament to the huge amount of excitement sparked across the globe” for the upcoming tournament. 

Clearly this is especially true for Argentine fans after Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni’s team, known affectionately as the Scaloneta, lifted the trophy in Qatar 2022. Millions of people turned out onto streets across the country for the celebrations that followed Argentina’s victory, in the largest recorded public gathering in Argentine history.

The presale draw is the first phase of ticket sales for the tournament. Fans owning a Visa credit card can apply until 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on September 19. Applicants selected via random draw will be given a date and time slot to purchase tickets from October 1 onwards.

Argentines have shown in recent years that they’re willing to follow their team around the world. Over 30,000 fans travelled to Qatar for the last FIFA World Cup, while thousands also headed to the U.S. for the 2024 Copa América.

Argentina and the Visa Waiver Program

Trips for Argentina fans to the US would become easier and cheaper if the country enters the United States’ Visa Waiver Program. In July, U.S. and Argentine officials announced that Argentina was starting the process to rejoin the program more than two decades after it was removed. This would allow Argentines to visit the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. 

At the time, an official from Argentina’s Security Ministry said the government hoped the country could enter the program in time for the World Cup. 

U.S. news site Axios reported earlier this month that the agreement had been delayed due to a disconnect between Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — although the U.S. government later disputed the claim.

According to an analysis by website Argentina Expat, nearly 1.9 million Argentines could visit the US annually if they no longer needed a visa, a big rise from the current figure of around 955,000 visitors.

At present, Argentines can apply for visas to make short visits to the United States for tourism, business, visiting family and friends, or medical treatments. Argentines are usually granted a B-1/B-2 visa, combining tourism and business purposes, which is valid for up to 10 years.