FIFA reveals 500,000 ticket applications already made for 2018 World Cup in Russia

FIFA has revealed that 500,000 ticket applications were made for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on the opening day of sales.

Football's world governing body claimed that Russian fans had placed the most ticket requests followed by Mexican, Argentinian, Brazilian, Chinese, American, Colombian, German and English supporters.

More than 50,000 tickets have been requested for the final, with just under 40,000 for the opening match of the tournament.

Fans could submit their applications via the FIFA ticketing website from Thursday (September 14), with tickets to be sold in two phases.

All applications made in the first phase, which closes on October 12, will enter a random selection draw if there is too much demand for the number of tickets.

The first phase of sales then opens from November 16 to 28, where tickets will be allocated first-come, first-served.

Another phase will begin on December 5 after the group-stage draw is made.

A final sales period will then take place from April 18 to July 15, the day of the World Cup final.

More than 50,000 tickets have been requested for the final, which will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium ©Getty Images

Group stage tickets will cost supporters between £79 ($107/€89) and £158 ($214/€179).

Prices then continue to increase as the tournament moves through the knock-out rounds, with the cheapest tickets for the round-of-16 matches priced at £87 ($118/€98).

Semi-final tickets will then cost a minimum of £215 ($292/€244) before entry to the final is priced at £343 ($466/€390) for category three, £535 ($727/€608) for category two and £829 ($1,126/€943) for category one.

A special price is available for Russian residents, with tickets to group stage matches costing just £17 ($23/€19) and tickets to the final priced at £92 ($125/€104).

Brazil, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Belgium, South Korea and Saudi Arabia have so far secured their spots at the tournament alongside hosts Russia.

Russia selected 11 host cities for the 2018 World Cup matches - Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara.

The matches will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums, with two in Moscow.

The final will be held at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.