FIFA has acknowledged a ticketing error on its website that allowed around 60 fans to secure World Cup tickets without making a payment.
The football governing body has since cancelled those tickets and contacted the affected supporters, giving them the chance to buy the tickets again at the correct price.
In a statement, FIFA explained that approximately 60 fans received confirmation on Wednesday, 3 June, for tickets that had been allocated free of charge due to a payment issue during the checkout process. The organisation apologised for the mistake and any inconvenience it may have caused.
According to Ticket Talk Network, a social media platform that monitors ticketing issues, the affected fans were informed that they have seven days to complete payment for their tickets. If they fail to do so within that period, the tickets will be removed from their accounts.
The tickets involved are believed to be for group-stage matches scheduled to take place in Toronto.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is set to kick off on 11 June.
This latest mishap adds to a growing list of ticketing concerns surrounding the tournament. Despite FIFA’s assurance that the competition would sell out, tickets for several matches are still available less than a week before the opening game.
Last week, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices following claims that the organisation may have artificially inflated prices and misled fans.
FIFA has introduced a ticketing system known as “variable pricing,” which allows ticket prices to rise or fall depending on demand and ticket availability throughout different sales phases.
The final public sales phase began in April, and FIFA noted at the time that additional tickets could continue to be released right up until match kick-off.
