FIFA has demanded payment from dozens of football fans who received World Cup 2026 tickets free of charge due to a glitch on its ticketing website, saying the tickets will be cancelled unless the correct amount is paid.
Gatekeepers News reports that the error affected about 60 supporters who were able to complete purchases at a listed price of zero dollars during the checkout process.
In a statement, FIFA said the tickets had been “allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process” and informed affected customers that their reservations would remain valid only if they completed payment for the correct amount.
The governing body added that it “regrets the error and any inconvenience caused”, while giving fans a limited period to pay for the tickets or risk losing them. Reports indicate the supporters have been given seven days to make the payment and retain their seats.
The affected tickets were reportedly for group-stage matches in Toronto. FIFA said the glitch stemmed from a payment issue on its online ticketing platform, which mistakenly allowed some transactions to be completed without any charge.
The incident is the latest controversy surrounding ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA’s ticketing practices have recently come under scrutiny, with authorities in New York and New Jersey reportedly examining complaints related to ticket sales and pricing.
