FIFA has confirmed a ticketing glitch on its official website gave dozens of fans free World Cup 2026 tickets, and the governing body has now demanded that supporters pay for the tickets or lose them.
The international football body admitted that an error in its ticketing system allowed fans to complete ticket purchases without paying for them. Supporters who received free tickets have now been given seven days to make payment or face cancellation of their tickets.
The glitch occurred during FIFA’s last-minute sales phase for World Cup tickets, which opened recently ahead of the tournament set to kick off on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
FIFA has stated that the tickets are valid only once payment is completed within the specified deadline. The organization has warned that any tickets for which payment is not received will be automatically cancelled and made available for resale.
The admission comes after fans took to social media to share screenshots showing they had successfully secured tickets without being charged. Some fans reported receiving confirmation emails for highly sought-after matches at no cost.
Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have been controversial, with FIFA raising the top ticket price for the final to $10,990 during a glitch-hampered reopening of sales in March. Category 3 tickets for the final now cost $5,785, up from $4,185.
The ticketing website has experienced multiple technical issues since sales reopened, with many fans reporting long wait times and queuing systems that took hours to navigate. FIFA said it has fixed the link issues and improved the platform.
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