By Enitan Abdultawab
FIFA has admitted that a website error temporarily allowed about 60 fans to obtain World Cup tickets without payment, before quickly cancelling the purchases and demanding full payment.
According to FIFA, the issue occurred during a checkout malfunction that wrongly processed some transactions at zero cost. The governing body confirmed that affected customers were notified on Wednesday, 3 June.
FIFA said it “regrets any inconvenience caused” and has given the impacted fans a seven-day window to complete payment if they wish to keep their tickets. If they fail to do so, the tickets will be removed from their accounts.
The affected tickets are believed to be for group-stage matches in Toronto, part of the upcoming World Cup hosted across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, 11 June.
The organisation has already faced criticism for pricing practices and availability issues, with seats still on sale just days before the tournament begins.
Authorities in New York and New Jersey have also reportedly opened an investigation into FIFA’s ticket sales methods, focusing on concerns about pricing transparency and possible misleading practices.
FIFA has defended its use of “variable pricing,” a system where ticket prices fluctuate depending on demand and availability. It says additional tickets may still be released right up to kickoff.
The World Cup, football’s biggest global event, continues to face pressure over fan access and affordability even before the first match begins.
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