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FIFA has acknowledged a ticketing error that allowed around 60 fans to obtain World Cup tickets without making a payment, but those supporters will now have to pay the full price if they wish to keep their seats.
The governing body confirmed that the issue stemmed from a problem during the online checkout process, which resulted in a small number of tickets being allocated at no cost. FIFA has since cancelled the incorrectly issued tickets and contacted the affected fans, offering them the opportunity to repurchase the same tickets at the correct price.
In a statement, FIFA said approximately 60 supporters received communication on 3 June informing them that their tickets had been assigned free of charge because of a payment issue during checkout. The organisation added that it regrets any inconvenience caused by the mistake.
According to Ticket Talk Network, a social media account that tracks ticketing errors and pricing issues, affected supporters were sent a letter explaining the situation. The correspondence reportedly informed them that they would have seven days to complete payment for the tickets. Failure to do so would result in the tickets being removed from their accounts.
The tickets involved are understood to be for World Cup group-stage matches scheduled to take place in Toronto. The tournament, which is being jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, is set to begin on 11 June.
The latest problem adds to a series of ticketing concerns that have surrounded FIFA in the lead-up to the tournament. Despite assurances that matches would attract full crowds, tickets for several games remain available less than a week before the opening fixture.
FIFA has also come under scrutiny for its ticket sales policies. Last week, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into the organisation's ticketing practices following complaints that fans may have been misled and that prices were being artificially increased.
Central to those concerns is FIFA's use of what it calls variable pricing. Under this system, ticket costs can rise or fall throughout the sales process depending on factors such as demand and availability. The approach has attracted criticism from some supporters who argue that fluctuating prices make it difficult to predict the true cost of attending matches.
FIFA opened its final public sales phase in April and noted at the time that additional tickets could become available at any point before kick-off. While the organisation continues to manage demand for the tournament, the latest website glitch has added further attention to its handling of ticket sales ahead of the World Cup.
