FIFA has confirmed that a technical error on its official ticketing website mistakenly allowed some fans to obtain free tickets for the 2026 World Cup.
In a statement shared on X, FIFA said about 60 fans were affected by the issue and have now been contacted to complete full payment for their tickets.
The organisation explained that the problem happened during the checkout process, which resulted in some tickets being issued at zero cost.
According to FIFA, the tickets are still valid and reserved for the affected buyers, but they must now pay the correct prices to keep them.
The football governing body apologised for the mistake and said it regrets any inconvenience caused to fans.
FIFA also noted that the affected tickets were for group stage matches scheduled to be played in Toronto.
The incident has added to growing concerns around World Cup ticket sales and pricing, with increased scrutiny over how tickets are distributed and resold.
Authorities in New York and New Jersey have reportedly launched investigations into FIFA’s ticketing system to determine whether consumer protection laws were violated.
There have also been complaints about uneven pricing for matches, with some tickets reportedly sold at very high and inconsistent rates across different fixtures.