FIFA World Cup tickets chaos as fans face long queues and pricing row

Football
2 Apr 2026 • 3:50 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • FIFA encountered technical difficulties and lengthy virtual queues when resuming World Cup ticket sales, with many prospective buyers waiting over 90 minutes.
  • Users attempting to purchase tickets were misdirected to an incorrect sales phase, although FIFA later stated the ticketing system was working properly.
  • Not all remaining tickets for the 104 matches across the US, Mexico, and Canada were released at once, with additional tickets to be made available on a rolling basis.
  • This fifth sales phase is the first time specific seat locations could be purchased, rather than just a ticket category.
  • FIFA's dynamic pricing strategy has drawn criticism from US Congress members and fan groups, who argue it makes the tournament financially inaccessible, despite FIFA defending its resale market practices.

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