FIFA has acknowledged a ticketing mistake that allowed around 60 fans to receive free tickets for 2026 World Cup group-stage matches in Toronto and has now asked those supporters to pay the full price if they wish to keep their seats.
According to football’s governing body, the issue stemmed from a payment problem during the online checkout process. As a result, a small number of tickets were allocated without charge. FIFA said it has since cancelled those tickets and contacted affected fans, offering them the chance to repurchase them at the correct price.
A letter shared by Ticket Talk Network, a social media account that tracks ticketing errors, indicated that supporters have seven days to complete payment before the tickets are removed from their accounts. The affected tickets are understood to be for World Cup group matches scheduled to take place in Toronto.
FIFA said it regrets the inconvenience caused by the error. The incident comes just days before the 2026 World Cup begins across Canada, the United States and Mexico on 11 June.
The ticketing glitch is the latest issue surrounding World Cup ticket sales. Despite FIFA previously expressing confidence that the tournament would sell out, seats remain available for some matches less than a week before kick-off.
The governing body is also facing scrutiny over its ticketing practices. Last week, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into allegations that FIFA may have artificially increased prices and misled consumers. FIFA currently uses a variable pricing model that allows ticket prices to change based on demand and availability during different sales phases.
The final public sales phase opened in April, with FIFA noting that additional tickets could continue to be released right up until matchday.