Thousands of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which were recently removed from the organization's official ticketing portal, have reappeared on resale marketplaces, according to a report by Newsweek. In late May, the number of tickets available for purchase on FIFA's platform suddenly dropped by 44,000, leaving fewer than 30,000 tickets. FIFA has not provided an explanation for the decline, which TicketData.com attributed to an unspecified 'sudden inventory removal.'
Resale Platforms See Influx of Tickets
Reports indicate an increase in tickets at lower prices on resale platforms such as SeatGeek and StubHub. Some speculate that this could be a deliberate strategy by FIFA to clear unsold inventory for low-demand games and avoid compensation claims from fans who previously purchased tickets at face value. Analysis by a source familiar with the data, speaking to Newsweek, suggests that the number of tickets removed from FIFA's system closely matches the volume that has since appeared on resale sites, implying a bulk transfer from FIFA's official ticketing system.
However, this transfer does not confirm that FIFA orchestrated the move to influence demand or pricing. Newsweek has contacted FIFA via email for comment but has not yet received a response.
FIFA Under Fire for Pricing
FIFA has faced criticism over high ticket prices for the tournament. The organization attributes the costs to its 'dynamic pricing' model, which adjusts prices based on demand, as well as strong interest in the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also blamed the secondary ticket market, arguing that tickets must be set at 'market rates' to prevent resellers from buying low-priced tickets and selling them at much higher prices.
Typically, resale platform prices exceed official prices. However, until recently, resale prices have been dropping below official release prices in many cases, amid reports of sluggish fan demand for the tournament. Following the sudden disappearance of over 40,000 tickets from the main platform in late May, observers have noted an uptick in tickets available on resale marketplaces, along with lower relative prices for certain matches.
