FIFA has canceled World Cup tickets issued to approximately 60 fans who mistakenly received them for free because of a website error. The governing body stated that the tickets were allocated at no charge due to a payment issue during the checkout process. FIFA has invited the affected fans to complete payment of the correct amount to maintain their reserved seats, expressing regret for the error and any inconvenience caused.
The mispriced tickets were sold through the official World Cup site on May 21, more than three months after FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that all 104 World Cup games had sold out. This incident is the latest complication in a ticketing program currently under investigation by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey. The officials have issued a subpoena to FIFA over ticketing practices and concerns regarding fans' seat locations amid possible violations of consumer protection laws.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19 and opens next Thursday in Mexico City. Tickets for this edition are significantly more expensive than previous versions, a move FIFA justifies as a means to generate billions of dollars for member federations to develop the game globally. While the host nations promised hundreds of thousands of group-stage tickets at $21 each, FIFA has utilized a controversial surge pricing model and operates its own resale platform, taking a 15% commission from both buyers and sellers.