Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has asked dozens of supporters who mistakenly received free tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to pay the correct amount within seven days or risk losing their seats.
The development follows a ticketing error that allowed some fans to secure match tickets at no cost after a payment glitch occurred during the checkout process.
FIFA confirmed that approximately 60 supporters were affected by the mistake and have since been contacted by the organisation to regularise their purchases.
The incident has added to growing concerns about FIFA’s ticketing arrangements for the 2026 World Cup, which has already attracted criticism over pricing, transparency and consumer protection issues.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Thursday, FIFA acknowledged the error and apologised to affected fans.
According to the organisation, the problem occurred during the ticket purchase process, leading to tickets being allocated at “0 USD” instead of the correct price.
“FIFA can confirm that approximately 60 FIFA World Cup 2026 fans received a communication on Wednesday, 3 June, regarding tickets that had been allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process,” the football body said.
FIFA explained that despite the error, the tickets would remain reserved for the affected supporters while they are given an opportunity to complete payment.
“The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount,” the organisation added.
Reports indicate that supporters have been given seven days to settle the outstanding balance. Failure to do so could result in the cancellation of their tickets and loss of access to the matches.
The issue was first reported by Ticket Talk Network, a platform that monitors ticket sales and developments across major sporting events.
According to the report, the affected tickets were allocated for group-stage matches scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, one of the host cities for the 2026 tournament.
While the number of affected supporters is relatively small compared to the millions of fans expected to attend the World Cup, the incident has once again placed FIFA’s ticketing system under public scrutiny.
The controversy comes at a time when the organisation is already facing criticism over the cost of tickets for the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in the history of the competition, featuring 48 teams instead of the traditional 32.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time three countries will co-host the competition.
With 104 matches scheduled to be played across multiple cities, demand for tickets is expected to reach record levels.
However, ticket pricing has become a major source of concern for many football supporters around the world.
Earlier this year, the European-based supporters’ organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticised FIFA’s pricing structure, describing it as unfair and excessively expensive.
The group accused FIFA of putting profits ahead of ordinary fans and argued that many supporters could be priced out of attending matches.
FSE went a step further by filing a lawsuit before the European Commission in March, challenging what it described as excessive ticket prices for the tournament.
The legal action increased pressure on FIFA to explain its ticketing policies and justify the rising cost of attending World Cup matches.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged that FIFA Marketplace, the organisation’s official resale platform, listed four tickets for the World Cup final at prices exceeding $2 million each.
The revelation sparked outrage among football fans, many of whom questioned how ordinary supporters could afford such prices.
Critics argued that the figures reflected a growing commercialisation of football and threatened the traditional fan experience associated with the World Cup.
Despite the backlash, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing structure.
Infantino maintained that FIFA was operating within the legal framework of the United States, where ticket resale laws permit tickets to be sold for amounts far above their original value.
According to him, FIFA had to take advantage of legal opportunities available within the market.
His comments, however, did little to ease concerns among supporters’ groups, many of whom continued to demand greater transparency and stronger protections for consumers.
Fresh pressure emerged this week after authorities in New York and New Jersey announced an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices.
The inquiry will examine whether aspects of the ticket sales process violated consumer protection laws.
Officials are expected to investigate allegations that ticket prices for approximately 90 of the tournament’s 104 matches increased significantly as different sales phases progressed.
Reports suggest that prices rose by an average of 34 percent between sales periods, leading to complaints from supporters who believed they were being charged unfairly.
Investigators are also reviewing claims that fans may have been misled about seat locations and ticket availability.
Particular attention is being given to FIFA’s introduction of a more expensive “front” ticket category after the initial sales process had already begun.
Critics argue that the move created confusion and may have disadvantaged supporters who purchased tickets earlier without knowledge of the new categories.
Authorities have also requested explanations regarding why ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup appear significantly higher than those seen at previous editions of the tournament.
The outcome of the investigation could have implications for future ticket sales and consumer protection measures during major sporting events.
Meanwhile, preparations for the tournament continue across North America.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11 with opening matches in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico.
The competition will culminate on July 19 with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
With one year remaining before the tournament begins, excitement among football fans continues to build.
However, the latest ticketing glitch and the wider debate over pricing have highlighted the challenges FIFA faces in balancing commercial interests with the expectations of millions of supporters eager to attend what promises to be the biggest World Cup ever staged.
For the 60 fans who unexpectedly received free tickets, the immediate challenge is much simpler: pay the correct amount within the deadline or lose their chance to watch football’s biggest event from the stands.