What to know
- FIFA has acknowledged a ticketing error that reportedly resulted in about 60 tickets for Toronto World Cup group-stage matches being issued without payment.
- A memo shared online shows FIFA has given affected fans seven days to purchase the tickets at full price or risk losing their seat allocations.
- The tickets were reportedly issued on May 21, with FIFA attributing the issue to a payment-processing problem during checkout.
- The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of FIFA ahead of the tournament, including backlash over its recent decision to ban reusable water bottles inside World Cup stadiums.
Around 60 FIFA World Cup tickets for Toronto matches were reportedly issued for free due to a ticketing glitch, and the governing body is now requiring affected fans to pay if they want to keep their seats.
According to a post by FIFA on X, the governing body acknowledged an error on its ticketing platform that resulted in dozens of fans receiving tickets without being charged.
Reports from Sky News, and BBC indicate that the affected tickets were for group-stage matches scheduled to take place in Toronto.
“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 tickets requested by these fans remain…
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) June 4, 2026
This email went out to a few games for tickets bought for Toronto games.
— Ticket Talk Network (@TicketTalkNet) June 4, 2026
Fans given seven days to pay
The issue first came to light after Ticket Talk Network, a social media account that tracks ticketing errors and industry developments, shared a memo FIFA sent to affected fans.
In the memo, FIFA acknowledged the error and informed fans that they would need to purchase the tickets in order to retain them.
“The tickets will be available for purchase through your FIFA ticketing account for seven days from the date of this message,” the memo stated.
The memo also indicated that the affected tickets were originally issued on May 21.
Fans who do not complete the purchase within the seven-day window risk losing their ticket allocations altogether.
Now Toronto has reached out to FIFA for comment.
Latest controversy ahead of tournament kickoff
The ticketing error is the latest development that may frustrate fans ahead of the tournament, which kicks off in less than a week.
Earlier this week, FIFA announced that spectators will no longer be permitted to bring their own reusable water bottles into stadiums during the World Cup, reversing previous guidance that suggested fans would be allowed to do so.
FIFA had previously stated that fans could bring transparent reusable water bottles with a capacity of up to one litre.
Fans were reportedly informed of the policy change through an email sent on Wednesday.
Water bottle ban sparks criticism
FIFA said the decision was made for safety reasons, arguing that bottles could potentially be used as projectiles and pose a risk to both spectators and players.
The move has drawn criticism from local politicians, including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who described the policy change as a “money grab.”
Environmental advocates have also pushed back against the decision, warning that it could lead to an increase in single-use plastic waste and undermine sustainability efforts associated with the tournament.
