Atlanta World Cup ticket buyers stranded after StubHub resale failures

On June 15, 2026, thousands of fans gathered at Atlanta Stadium for the World Cup Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde. Many, including Bina Ramroop who had purchased tickets for her grandson, were unable to enter because tickets bought on resale platforms such as StubHub could not be transferred to FIFA's ticket‑ing app. Ramroop said, “I didn’t want a refund, I didn’t want my money back. I wanted to go to the game.”

StubHub and FIFA each blamed the other; StubHub cited FIFA’s “poor technology infrastructure” and recent transfer restrictions, while FIFA emphasized that purchases through its official resale marketplace are guaranteed. Similar complaints were reported from users of SeatGeek and Vivid Seats. StubHub offered refunds, and FIFA urged fans to use its own marketplace, which adds a 30% surcharge on resold tickets. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in secondary‑market ticketing for major sporting events.