FIFA has admitted a ticketing glitch that gave dozens of fans free tickets to the 2026 World Cup and now wants them to pay the correct amount or risk losing their seats.
The world football governing body said about 60 fans were given tickets at “0 USD” after a payment issue in the checkout process.
FIFA said in a statement posted on 𝕏 on Thursday: “FIFA can confirm that on Wednesday, 3 June, approximately 60 FIFA World Cup 2026 fans received a notification regarding tickets that had been allocated free of charge (0 USD) due to a previous payment issue during the checkout process.
FIFA apologized for the error but said the tickets would remain reserved for the affected supporters while payment was completed.
“The tickets requested by these fans are still on hold and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount,” the organisation said.
Fans have been given seven days to pay the outstanding balance or risk losing their tickets. Ticket Talk Network first reported the problem and said the seats affected were for group-stage games due to be played in Toronto, Canada.
The incident comes as FIFA’s ticketing system has come under increased scrutiny ahead of the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This week, in May, fan group Football Supporters Europe criticised World Cup ticket prices, describing the structure as “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal”. The organisation already lodged a complaint with the European Commission in March over what it described as excessive pricing for the tournament.
The controversy grew when FIFA’s resale site offered four tickets to the July 19 final in New York for more than $2 million apiece.
But Gianni Infantino defended the pricing, saying that FIFA was complying with US laws that allow tickets to be resold at prices far higher than face value.
New York and New Jersey authorities said Tuesday they’re investigating whether World Cup ticket sales violated consumer protection laws.
The probe will look into claims that prices for some 90 of the 104 matches of the tournament rose by an average of 34 per cent as sales phases progressed.
FIFA also offered more expensive “front” category tickets during the sales process, and investigators are looking into claims that fans were misled about seat locations and availability.
Officials also asked for an explanation why ticket prices for the 2026 tournament are higher than those seen at previous World Cups.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to start on June 11, with matches scheduled in Mexico City and Guadalajara, and the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in the United States.
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