Key facts
- Fans have reported last-minute World Cup ticket cancellations on StubHub.
- The cancellations have left fans stranded outside stadiums, with significant travel costs incurred.
- A class-action lawsuit has been filed against StubHub for failing to deliver tickets.
- Speculative ticketing, where sellers list tickets they don't own, is cited as a primary cause.
- StubHub and FIFA have blamed each other for technical issues affecting ticket transfers.
- Industry experts and consumers largely attribute the problem to StubHub's practices.
Fans attending the 2026 World Cup are experiencing a significant ticketing crisis, with many reporting last-minute cancellations from secondary marketplaces like StubHub. This has left ticket holders stranded outside stadiums, having already spent substantial amounts on travel and accommodation.
Sergio Enrique Alvarado Montalvo, 45, described his devastation after StubHub cancelled tickets he purchased for $1,700 for the Argentina v Austria match, just one day before travel. His family's total trip cost nearly $6,000. He explained that the seller could not deliver the tickets, and StubHub refused comparable replacements due to soaring prices. Similarly, Eben Pingree's family faced disappointment when tickets for the Scotland v Haiti match, bought for $2,800, vanished on match day, leaving his 11-year-old son Cole devastated.
This situation is being described as one of the largest ticketing collapses in history, largely attributed to 'speculative ticketing,' where unverified sellers list tickets they do not yet possess. When prices rise, these sellers back out, leaving buyers with refunds that do not cover their non-refundable travel expenses.
Two fans, Julie Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against StubHub, accusing the platform of failing to deliver tickets for which they paid at least $1,900 each. The lawsuit alleges fans were "lied to" and incurred "tremendous financial losses."
StubHub has pointed fingers at FIFA, citing "significant performance issues" with its new ticketing app that affected transfers across all resale platforms. FIFA, however, has refuted these claims, stating its official platform is the only guaranteed sales channel and that its system is operating reliably, with over 5 million attendees so far.
Industry experts, like Scott Friedman of the Ticket Talk Network, place blame squarely on StubHub, despite FIFA's ticketing technology also being criticized. Bradford Clements, an attorney representing clients with over $2.4 million in claims against StubHub, noted the company's dispute process often deters consumers. StubHub stated it is increasing its capacity to source replacement tickets and that its FanProtect Guarantee covers refunds if customers do not receive their ordered tickets or comparable replacements.