Verizon's Ultimate Access promotion, in partnership with football legend David Beckham, offers a significant opportunity for consumers to obtain free tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This campaign is structured around the company's Verizon Access loyalty programme, targeting customers through a series of timed ticket drops and a separate sweepstakes for exclusive pitchside access. The promotion addresses the high demand for World Cup tickets, which has seen over 150 million requests for a limited supply of 7 million tickets across matches in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament itself is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The initiative provides two primary forms of access: direct free ticket claims and the "Golden Ticket" sweepstakes. For the free tickets, Verizon customers can claim pairs of tickets to group stage matches on a first-come, first-served basis. These tickets are distributed through the My Verizon app in the Verizon Access section. The promotion has been executed in multiple waves, with a notable third wave scheduled from 7 to 11 January 2026. During this period, ticket drops occur daily at 3:00 PM ET (8:00 PM GMT). The available tickets cover hundreds of seats for every World Cup 2026 match, including all group stage games across U.S. host cities. Specific matches mentioned in the source material include fixtures at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (such as France vs. Senegal, Norway vs. Senegal, Ecuador vs. Germany, and Panama vs. England) and matches in Philadelphia.
The "Golden Ticket" sweepstakes, a separate element of the Ultimate Access programme, offers a more experiential prize. Winners of these tickets receive unparalleled access, including on-field pitchside viewing during matches—a space traditionally reserved for players and coaches. The sweepstakes will also provide opportunities for meet-and-greet sessions with football stars. Confirmed participants for these sessions include David Beckham, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, current USWNT players Alyssa and Gisele Thompson, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, and Sergio "Kun" Agüero. Verizon plans to award approximately 200 Golden Tickets, which will also grant winners access to watch part of a match from the pitchside. Further details on the Golden Tickets giveaway are expected to be announced through social media, retail, and other channels.
Eligibility for the free ticket claims is explicitly restricted to Verizon customers. Consumers who are not currently customers are advised to switch to Verizon to participate. The primary method of entry is through the My Verizon app. For the Golden Tickets sweepstakes, the source material indicates that chances to win will be available through social media, retail, and other mediums, though specific entry mechanisms are not detailed in the provided chunks. Verizon directs customers to monitor its social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Facebook for announcements regarding additional ticket drops and sweepstakes details. The company also mentions that more information will be forthcoming and will be available at Verizon.com/Access.
The context documents highlight the unprecedented demand for World Cup tickets, noting that FIFA received over 150 million ticket requests in the first 15 days of its lottery, which was 30 times the available supply. Ticket prices on the secondary market have surged compared to previous tournaments, with the cheapest Philadelphia matches ranging from $140 to $265, and four Category 3 tickets for all six Philadelphia games costing over $5,000. This starkly contrasts with the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where tickets started at $11. Verizon's promotion is positioned as a way for fans to gain access despite this high demand and cost. The company is an Official Telecommunication Services Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which underpins its ability to offer such a promotion.
The promotional campaign features David Beckham, who is quoted in the source material expressing his pride in partnering with Verizon to give fans unprecedented access to the tournament. Verizon's marketing, featuring Beckham, proclaims that "no one gets you closer" to the action than Verizon. The promotion also extends to other experiences beyond tickets, including on-the-ground activations, special events, and giveaways. While the primary focus is on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one source mentions that Verizon also gives away tickets to other events, including the Super Bowl, through its Verizon Access programme.
For UK consumers interested in global sporting events and promotional offers, this promotion demonstrates a large-scale corporate giveaway tied to a major international tournament. The structure—using a loyalty programme app for timed drops, coupled with a separate sweepstakes for high-value experiences—is a common model for such campaigns. However, the eligibility is strictly limited to Verizon customers in the United States, as the source material specifies "U.S. customers" for the ticket claims. The timing of the ticket drops is given in Eastern Time (ET), and the World Cup matches are held in North American venues. Therefore, while the information is valuable for understanding how such promotions are run, direct participation from the UK would be contingent on being a Verizon customer, which is a U.S.-based telecommunications provider. The source material does not mention any international shipping or eligibility for UK-based consumers.
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.
Conclusion
Verizon's Ultimate Access promotion offers a structured method for its customers to claim free tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup through timed drops in the My Verizon app, with a third wave scheduled for January 2026. A separate Golden Ticket sweepstakes provides a chance for exclusive pitchside access and meet-and-greets with football stars. The campaign is a direct response to the extreme demand and high cost of World Cup tickets. Participation is exclusively for Verizon customers in the United States, with entry managed through the company's loyalty programme app and announced via its social media channels.
Sources
- Verizon launches free World Cup ticket giveaway for customers
- Verizon's big assist could net you free tickets to 2026 World Cup. Here's how to win.
- How to win free tickets for NJ 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, Super Bowl
- FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets Verizon
- Verizon and David Beckham Kick Off Third Wave of Verizon Ultimate Access