South African soccer fans are waiting to see if Bafana Bafana will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup before they enquire about tours.
The Visa Presale Draw entry period for tickets opened on September 10 and will remain open until September 19.
The FIFA World Cup will be hosted jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
According to Illana Perreira, COO of Tourvest Destination Management Sports and Events (operators of Pure-Travel and SA Rugby Travel), the opening of the application process for tickets has not triggered a major surge in enquiries.
But Perreira is not concerned about the slow enquiry process and points out that South Africans tend to wait until they have certainty on teams, travel logistics and packages before applying.
There should be more enquiries after key milestones are reached, she says, like the final draw, confirmed fixtures and Bafana Bafana’s qualification.
Bafana still need to play against the already eliminated Zimbabwe on October 6 and Rwanda on October 13 before they can qualify.
Perreira says while rugby still captures slightly more corporate and premium travel attention, soccer engages a broader audience and generates significant excitement at grassroots level. “The market is strong and growing, even if the booking patterns differ from rugby.”
She says Pure-Travel and SA Rugby Travel generally sell ticket-inclusive packages. “For the FIFA World Cup, you need to be an official sales agent, which is a complex journey, and hence our role varies depending on our clients’ requirements.”
Many clients prefer to secure full packages through Pure-Travel, says Perreira, which include tickets, flights and accommodation. “For some, particularly corporate groups, the client might purchase tickets first and then use our services for the travel arrangements.”
