FIFA Scraps Complimentary World Cup Ticket Offer, Now Requires Full Payment

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By Enitan Abdultawab

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The organisation has already faced criticism for pricing practices and availability issues, with seats still on sale just days before the tournament begins.

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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.

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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.

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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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