- Fifa has cancelled approximately 60 World Cup tickets that were mistakenly issued for free due to a website error, marking the latest controversy in the tournament's ticketing programme.
- The governing body stated the tickets were 'allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue' and expressed regret, inviting affected fans to complete payment for their reserved tickets at the correct amount.
- This incident adds to an already contentious ticketing process, which is currently under investigation by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey for potential breaches of consumer protection laws, despite Fifa previously declaring all games sold out.
- Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are notably more expensive than previous editions, with Fifa continuing to sell tickets and operating a resale platform that charges a 15 per cent commission on transactions.
- Fifa defends the elevated prices by stating they will generate billions of dollars to support the global development of football, a strategy implemented as the organisation has brought World Cup operations, including ticketing, in-house.
IN FULL
Fifa cancels dozens of free World Cup tickets given to fans after website error
