From Dispatch Room
FIFA has admitted that an error on its website allowed about 60 fans to purchase World Cup tickets for free, but the world football governing body has now cancelled the tickets and asked affected supporters to pay the full price.
The affected fans were reportedly informed that their tickets had been allocated at no charge due to a payment issue during the checkout process. FIFA said it regretted the inconvenience caused by the mistake.
The cancelled tickets were understood to be for group stage matches in Toronto, one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fans affected by the error have been given seven days to re-purchase the tickets at the correct price before the seats are removed from their accounts.
The development comes just days before the World Cup kicks off on June 11 across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The ticketing error is the latest controversy facing FIFA’s sales process for the tournament. Despite earlier expectations that the event would sell out, seats remain available less than a week before the opening match.
Last week, attorneys general in New York and New Jersey opened an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices following allegations of inflated prices and misleading communication to fans.
FIFA is using what it describes as a “variable pricing” model, allowing ticket prices to change during sales phases depending on demand and availability.
The final open sales window began in April, with FIFA stating at the time that additional tickets could still be released up to the start of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition jointly hosted by three countries and is expected to attract millions of fans across North America.
— Newspot Nigeria
