MIAMI — World Cup ticket holders across the United States, Canada and Mexico reported problems accessing matches this week after purchases made through secondary resale platforms failed to transfer properly into FIFA’s official ticketing system, prompting complaints from fans and renewed scrutiny of the tournament’s ticketing process.
The issues emerged during the opening stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with supporters reporting that tickets purchased through resale marketplaces such as StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats either failed to appear in FIFA’s mobile ticketing application or became unavailable shortly before matches. Several fans said they were unable to enter stadiums despite having paid for tickets months in advance.
One of the cases highlighted by the Associated Press involved a fan who purchased tickets for a group-stage match in Atlanta but was denied entry after the tickets could not be transferred into FIFA’s official platform. According to the report, representatives of both FIFA and the resale platform directed the customer back and forth while attempting to determine the cause of the failure.
StubHub said it was working to resolve transfer issues and, where possible, provide replacement tickets or refunds. The company has attributed some problems to restrictions associated with FIFA’s ticket-transfer system. FIFA has maintained that only tickets purchased through its official channels are guaranteed to be valid for entry.
The complaints come amid broader concerns over World Cup ticketing. Earlier this month, FIFA acknowledged a website error that resulted in approximately 60 tickets being issued at no cost. The governing body later canceled those tickets and invited affected fans to complete payment, stating that the tickets remained reserved for them. “FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” the organization said in a statement.
Separately, FIFA’s ticketing practices have faced legal and consumer scrutiny. The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have sought information related to ticket sales and seating concerns, while questions have also been raised about the availability and pricing of tickets on official and secondary marketplaces. FIFA has not publicly acknowledged any improper conduct regarding ticket distribution.
Fans have also reported difficulties with FIFA’s official resale marketplace, including delayed payments to sellers and concerns about ticket visibility within the ticketing application, according to reports and user complaints posted online. Some details surrounding those cases remain unclear.
As of Friday, FIFA had not announced any changes to its ticket-transfer procedures. Matches continued across the three host countries, while affected supporters and resale platforms sought resolutions for pending ticket disputes.
