FIFA has canceled World Cup tickets that were mistakenly issued free to around 60 fans due to a technical glitch on its ticketing website. The affected tickets were sold through FIFA’s official platform on May 21, but due to a checkout issue, some buyers were not charged for their purchases.The governing body informed the affected fans that their tickets will not be valid until the correct payment is made. FIFA said the seats have been reserved and buyers have been given an opportunity to pay the appropriate amount.“FIFA apologizes for the error and any inconvenience caused. The tickets requested by these fans remain secure, and affected fans are invited to complete the correct payment,” said football’s governing body. “FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused.”The incident is the latest controversy surrounding FIFA’s World Cup ticketing process. The ticketing program is already under scrutiny, with the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey investigating whether certain practices may violate consumer protection laws.The mistake came months after FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup had been sold out. Despite this claim, tickets for many matches are still available through FIFA’s official sales channels.Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have been criticized by fans, with many pointing out that they are significantly higher than previous editions of the tournament. FIFA has defended the pricing strategy, saying the extra revenue will help fund football development programs around the world.The organization also operates its own resale platform, where it charges commission fees from both buyers and sellers. Although FIFA says the system is designed to minimize ticket influence, tickets are widely available on other resale markets.When the United States, Canada and Mexico won the hosting rights in 2018, organizers promised that millions of group stage tickets would be available for less than $21. However, the prices of many matches are now quite high.
