World Cup Fans Are Showing up to Stadiums With Thousands Spent on Resale Tickets, Only to Find Themselves Locked Out at the Gate
FIFA ticketing woes worsen.
Fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are getting locked out of stadiums after spending thousands on resale tickets that never materialize, leaving them stranded outside matches they traveled across countries to see. According to NPR, John McNicholas, 65, found himself outside Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the Scotland vs. Morocco game last week, one ear tuned to the game and the other pressed to his phone trying to reach StubHub customer service.
After spending over $1,200 on two tickets, driving four hours from New Jersey, and hiking two miles from his hotel, he learned his tickets had fallen through. The hardest part was telling his friend David Wain, who had flown in from England specifically for the match. They waited until halftime hoping for a last-minute solution, but nothing came through.
Since the World Cup began two weeks ago, a growing number of fans who bought resale tickets are showing up to stadiums only to be turned away at the gates. Many are discovering their tickets are invalid after spending thousands on travel and accommodations, forcing them to either miss the game entirely or scramble for new tickets at inflated prices. The problem has hit StubHub users hardest, though fans on social media report similar issues with Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
StubHub has blamed FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure
In a statement, StubHub specifically pointed to performance issues with FIFA’s app that have affected ticket transfers across all resale platforms. FIFA, however, which only guarantees tickets purchased through its official platform, didn’t respond to questions about StubHub’s claims. The organization runs its own resale marketplace but hasn’t addressed the technical problems that resellers say are causing the issues.
The financial and emotional toll on fans has been steep. Brad Michel from San Antonio spent $15,600 on three center-field seats for the Netherlands vs. Sweden match in January 2025, months before FIFA’s official ticket sales began. He thought buying early would avoid the lottery system’s drama, but two of his tickets never arrived. StubHub offered replacement seats, but they were nosebleed tickets behind the goal.
The company’s FanProtect Guarantee policy promises refunds or “comparable” replacements, but Michel discovered that “comparable” is determined by StubHub based on cost, quality, availability, and other factors. He and his family ended up watching the match on TV at their Airbnb, scanning the stands for his original seats which appeared occupied.
Brett Romas faced a different nightmare when he flew from Alberta, Canada to Houston with his 13-year-old son for the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan game. The tickets StubHub sent were for the wrong match, England vs. Ghana in Boston. After an all-night struggle with customer service, he received an email the morning of the game saying there had been a system error and the only option was a refund.
The disappointment of potentially missing the game was crushing, especially for his son who is a huge Cristiano Ronaldo fan. Romas managed to buy new tickets through FIFA, but the prices had skyrocketed and the seats were far apart. What started as two seats together in section 115 became two seats in section 635, a row and five seats apart.
This isn’t just a FIFA World Cup problem
John Breyault from the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy group, explained that missing tickets happen at other major events too. The issue often stems from speculative ticketing, where resellers list seats for sale before they actually possess them.
While StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats prohibit speculative ticketing and penalize sellers who fail to deliver, Breyault argues the policies don’t adequately protect consumers. A refund doesn’t compensate for the lost experience, especially for once-in-a-lifetime events like the World Cup.
StubHub claims most ticket transfers have been successful and says it’s working with FIFA to prevent further issues. But for fans like McNicholas, the damage is done. He doesn’t know when he’ll get another chance to attend a World Cup match, and the experience has left him bitter about both FIFA and secondary ticket markets. The time, money, and effort spent planning these trips make the disappointment harder to swallow when the tickets don’t come through.
The World Cup ticketing controversy extends beyond just resale problems
Fans have also complained about sky-high prices and confusing seating charts. The combination of technical issues, unclear policies, and the high stakes of international travel have created a perfect storm of frustration. Add to this the exorbitant costs of food and drinks in the stands and for many, the dream of seeing their favorite teams play live has turned into a logistical nightmare.
If you’re planning to attend a World Cup match, the safest route is buying directly through FIFA’s official platform. Resale tickets come with significant risks, and even guarantees from major platforms might not protect you from ending up outside the stadium. The excitement of the tournament is undeniable, but the ticketing process has become a minefield of potential problems that can derail even the most carefully planned trips.
(Featured image: Anthony Quintano)
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