December 19, 2025 – FIFA is facing growing criticism after BBC Sport found that World Cup 2026 fans are still waiting for thousands of pounds owed to them from resold tickets, despite FIFA’s own rules stating payments should be completed within 60 days.
Supporters who sold tickets through FIFA’s official resale marketplace say they have been left out of pocket for weeks, with some reporting delays well beyond the promised timeframe. The issue has raised fresh concerns over FIFA’s handling of ticketing for the expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
Payments Overdue Despite FIFA’s 60-Day Rule
According to FIFA’s ticketing terms and conditions, sellers should receive payment within 60 calendar days of a successful resale. However, BBC Sport discovered that fans who resold tickets as early as early October are still waiting for their money more than two months later.
FIFA declined to issue a statement explaining the delays. However, BBC Sport understands the problem is linked to FIFA needing to collect additional bank details from some sellers before funds can be released — despite earlier assurances that refunds would be processed automatically.
It remains unclear how many supporters worldwide are affected.
Fans Left Out of Pocket Ahead of Fixture Confirmations
The unpaid tickets were originally bought during the September pre-sale ballot, which ran for 10 days and released around one million tickets. Access was restricted to Visa cardholders, as part of FIFA’s commercial partnership.
One England supporter, Iain, told BBC Sport he is still owed nearly £650 for a ticket he sold 65 days ago for Canada’s opening match in Toronto.
“I was planning to use that money to buy England tickets now the fixtures are confirmed,” he said.
“FIFA are generating billions from this World Cup but can’t seem to handle basic payment processing on time. The delay looks to be affecting a lot of people.”
‘Owed More Than £8,000’ – International Fans Affected
The problem is not limited to small transactions. A supporter from Mexico, who asked not to be named, provided evidence showing he is owed more than £8,000 for multiple ticket sales that all took place over 60 days ago.
“It’s really frustrating,” he said.
“They seem to be fumbling around. I’ve had to move money just to pay off my credit card.”
Several affected fans told BBC Sport they received an email from FIFA last month requesting bank details — despite earlier messages stating payments would be refunded automatically to the original card used for purchase.
FIFA Resale Marketplace Under Scrutiny
FIFA opened its official ticket resale marketplace on 2 October, allowing ticket holders to list seats at a price of their choosing. The governing body takes a 15% fee from both the buyer and the seller, meaning FIFA profits from every resale transaction.
While the main ticket ballot only opened on 11 December, many fans who secured tickets earlier — before the World Cup draw — have already chosen to resell unwanted matches.
At the same time, tickets for the 2026 World Cup have appeared in large numbers on unofficial resale websites, prompting FIFA to warn fans against third-party platforms.
FIFA insists its own marketplace is the only authorised resale channel, claiming it protects supporters from invalid or unauthorised ticket sales.
Ticket Pricing Controversy Adds to Fan Anger
The delayed payments come amid broader criticism of FIFA’s ticketing strategy for the 2026 World Cup. Earlier this week, the organisation announced a limited number of “more affordable” $60 (£45) tickets for each of the tournament’s 104 matches.
The move followed backlash over high prices, with tickets for the World Cup final reportedly costing up to £6,615, leaving many fans feeling priced out of football’s biggest event.
For supporters still waiting to be paid for resold tickets, the delays have only deepened frustration and damaged trust in FIFA’s ticketing system.
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