FIFA Faces Backlash Over ‘Free Ticket’ Glitch Ahead Of 2026 World Cup

Published 5 June 2026 · sports

FIFA Faces Backlash Over ‘Free Ticket’ Glitch Ahead Of 2026 World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 18:06 IST FIFA cancels free World

FIFA Faces Backlash Over ‘Free Ticket’ Glitch Ahead Of 2026 World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 18:06 IST FIFA cancels free World Cup tickets after website glitch, asks around 60 fans to repay, as US-Canada-Mexico tournament faces scrutiny over ticket pricing. Rapid Read Ivory Coast stun France in FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match. (Picture Credit: AP) FIFA has said that it regrets the error on its website, which caused a lot of free tickets to be given away to fans, adding that the ticket holders will have to pay for them. As many as 60 individuals managed to bag free tickets for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is all set to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA has cancelled tickets that were issued with incorrect pricing and has offered affected fans the chance to repurchase them at the correct full price. “FIFA can confirm that approximately 60 fans received a communication on Wednesday, 3 June regarding tickets that had been allocated at no charge due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process," FIFA said. The body added that it regrets any ‘inconvenience caused’. Ticket Talk Network, a social media account known for highlighting ticketing errors, shared a letter confirming that affected fans have been given seven days to complete payment for their tickets, failing which the bookings will be removed from their accounts. According to a report in the BBC, the affected tickets were for group stage games in Toronto.

The first group stage game at the Toronto Stadium is scheduled for June 12, between hosts Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The FIFA World Cup, all set to be hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will start on Thursday, June 11. The glitch marks the latest in a series of ticketing problems for FIFA, which had earlier promised a sold-out event, despite seats still being available less than a week before the tournament’s start. Last week, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices after allegations of ‘artificially inflating prices’ and ‘misleading fans’. FIFA is employing a pricing model known as ‘variable pricing’ for ticket sales, under which prices can fluctuate across different sales phases depending on demand and availability.

News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: June 05, 2026, 18:01 IST News sports football FIFA Faces Backlash Over ‘Free Ticket’ Glitch Ahead Of 2026 World Cup Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...