StubHub cancellations leave World Cup fans without tickets

U.S. resale platform StubHub cancelled tickets for several fans just hours before World Cup matches, offering only refunds. Jeremy Wright, who had bought seats to see the Netherlands‑Japan game, and Dacy Gillespie, who purchased tickets for Argentina‑Algeria, both received last‑minute emails that the sellers could not deliver. The affected fans, who had traveled long distances, expressed anger on social media.

StubHub, not an official FIFA ticket partner, says cancellations stem from delivery problems with third‑party sellers. FIFA defended its own resale platform, noting it charges a 30% commission and claims it operates reliably at scale. Ticket‑industry expert Scott Friedman warned that “speculative ticketing” – sellers listing tickets hoping to buy them cheaper later – can leave buyers with “ghost tickets.” The episode highlights frustration over FIFA’s new dynamic pricing and the complexities of secondary‑market ticketing for the 2026 World Cup in North America.