FIFA has cancelled a number of 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets that were mistakenly issued free of charge due to a technical error during the online purchasing process.
According to a statement released by world football’s governing body, approximately 60 fans received tickets at a price of zero dollars after a payment-related issue occurred on the official ticketing platform.
FIFA said the affected tickets were incorrectly allocated at no cost because of a checkout system error and confirmed that the issue has since been addressed.
“FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” the organization said. It added that the tickets originally selected by the affected supporters remain reserved and that those individuals have been invited to complete payment for the correct ticket price.
The incident has added to ongoing scrutiny surrounding FIFA’s ticketing operations ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Reports indicate that the incorrectly priced tickets were issued through FIFA’s official ticketing platform on May 21. The development comes despite previous statements suggesting that all matches of the expanded 104-game tournament had already sold out.
FIFA continues to offer tickets for selected matches through its official sales channels, while also operating a resale platform that allows supporters to buy and sell tickets through an authorized marketplace.
Ticket pricing for the 2026 tournament has generated considerable discussion among football fans, with some supporters expressing concerns over higher costs compared to previous World Cups. FIFA has stated that tournament revenues contribute to the development of football programs and infrastructure projects across its member associations worldwide.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin next week in Mexico City and will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams.
