FIFA Cancels Free Tickets Due to Website Error

FIFA has reversed the allocation of a dozen tickets for the 2026 World Cup that were mistakenly given away for free due to a glitch in its online payment system on May 21st. The organization acknowledged that the error resulted in sixty fans receiving complimentary access during the checkout process.

FIFA issued a statement apologizing for the disruption caused by this mistake and assured that ticket reservations would be guaranteed upon payment of the correct value. This incident follows several controversies surrounding FIFA's ticketing system, which is already facing legal challenges from the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey regarding alleged violations of consumer protection laws.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that all 104 matches of the expanded 2026 World Cup have been sold, with several matches still available for purchase on FIFA.com ahead of the event's kickoff next week in Mexico City. Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have been criticized for being higher than previous competitions, with FIFA justifying the inflated prices as necessary for generating extra income to support football development programs worldwide.