U.S. Fans Buy Second-Most World Cup Tickets Despite Team's Absence

The absence of the United States men’s national team from the 2018 FIFA World Cup hasn’t stopped American fans from purchasing tickets to this summer’s tournament in Russia.

Fans living in the United States purchased 16,462 tickets—the most of any foreign nation—during the second ticket window, which ran from March 13 to April 3, according to FIFA.

During the first-come, first-serve window, 216,134 of the available 394,433 tickets were allocated to Russian fans.

Internationally, fans in Argentina purchased 15,006 tickets, while those in Colombia and Mexico were allocated 14,755 and 14,372 tickets, respectively. Brazil (9,962), Peru (9,766), China (6,598), Germany (5,974), Australia (5,905), and India (4,509) rounded out the top 10.

In total, FIFA has allocated 1,698,049 tickets worldwide for the 2018 FIFA World Cup since sales started in September 2017, with international sales accounting for 53 percent overall.

The third and final ticket sales phase begins April 18 and lasts throughout the tournament. Fans are able to purchase last-minute tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The United States failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago during CONCACAF qualifying in October 2017. It is the first World Cup, which is played every four years, since 1986 which won’t feature the Americans.

“I just want to say sorry to the fans,” U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez said after the defeat. “All the U.S. fans that were pulling for us, that wanted to go to Russia, that believed in us. We let down an entire nation today.”

The 2018 FIFA World Cup begins June 14 in Russia. The tournament, featuring 32 international teams, will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 cities throughout Russia. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Final will take place July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.