06/05/26 07:17:00
Printable Page
06/05 07:15 CDT FIFA cancels World Cup tickets to about 60 fans who got them
for free due to error
FIFA cancels World Cup tickets to about 60 fans who got them for free due to
error
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) --- FIFA has canceled World Cup tickets issued to about
60 fans who mistakenly got them for free because of a website error.
The tickets were "allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue
during the checkout process," FIFA said in a statement Thursday.
"FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused," soccer's ruling body
said. "The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected
fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount."
It is the latest glitch in an often controversial World Cup ticketing program
that the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey are investigating for
possible violations of consumer protection laws.
The mispriced tickets were sold through the official World Cup site on May 21,
FIFA said in an email message to buyers.
That date was more than three months after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said
all 104 World Cup games had sold out.
Tickets are still being sold by FIFA for games at the World Cup which opens
next Thursday in Mexico City. It is unclear if seats for games in less demand
will drop in price under FIFA's surge pricing model that has been controversial
for fans.
FIFA also is operating its own resale platform --- and taking 15% commission
from both buyers and sellers --- in order to cut out ticket dealers from the
market. However, sales platforms such as Seat Geek were offering widespread
availability Friday for many games.
Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are wildly more expensive than any previous
edition, which FIFA has justified as helping earn billions of dollars it will
give to member federations for developing the game globally.
FIFA took control of pricing and selling tickets as part of bringing World Cup
operations in-house. The long-time model at previous editions was working with
host nations' local organizing committees.
When the soccer federations of the United States, Canada and Mexico won hosting
rights in 2018, they promised to sell hundreds of thousands of tickets at $21
each for group-stage games.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
|
