FIFA demands Toronto fans pay back free World Cup tickets after system glitch
About 60 people who exploited a pricing error to snag Category 2 tickets for Canada's opener for free now have a week to pay up or lose their seats.
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FIFA has come calling on roughly 60 Toronto-area fans who managed to walk away with free Category 2 tickets for Canada's opening World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.
A glitch in FIFA's ticketing system on May 21 allowed the tickets—normally priced above $1,000—to be added to carts at a negative value of approximately $2,000. Fans who bundled other Toronto World Cup matches into the same order could offset the total cost to zero, completing checkout without entering payment information.
FIFA confirmed Wednesday it contacted the affected fans and demanded they pay the correct amount within seven days or forfeit their seats. "The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount," a FIFA spokesperson said. "FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused."
One Toronto fan shared screenshots showing he scored eight tickets total—four for Canada's opener and four for the Croatia vs. Panama match on June 23. He acknowledged the glitch was "obvious" but said he wasn't surprised FIFA would demand repayment.
The incident underscores ongoing frustration with World Cup ticket prices. As of Friday, more than 250 seats remained available for Canada's match, all priced above $3,100.
For fans seeking tickets legitimately, the Ontario government has ramped up enforcement against scalpers. Anyone caught reselling tickets above face value from June 10 onward faces fines up to $25,000—a steep jump from the previous $10,000 penalty.