FIFA have found themselves at the centre of yet another ticketing controversy ahead of the 2026 World Cup, after thousands of fans received a confusing and incomplete email.
The latest mishap has only deepened frustration around a sales process that many supporters already feel has been unclear and poorly communicated.
2026 World Cup fans receive unexpected ticket email ahead of the tournament
On Tuesday morning, fans who had previously applied for tickets to the 2026 World Cup were surprised to receive an email from FIFA advertising an “exclusive additional chance to purchase” tickets.
However, the message immediately raised alarm bells. While it promised a 48-hour exclusive sales window, the email failed to include any start time, leaving a blank space where the key detail should have been. Even more confusingly, the embedded purchase link directed fans to a page stating that the ticket portal had already closed and would not reopen until April.
Fans quickly took to social media platforms to see whether the email was genuine or simply an error. For several hours, FIFA offered no clarification.
By the afternoon, some supporters received a follow-up email containing an actual time slot, with sales beginning as early as Wednesday morning. FIFA subsequently confirmed to The Athletic that a limited number of single-match tickets had become available following the Random Selection Draw.
Those emails were sent to a “defined group” of unsuccessful applicants. However, FIFA did not explain how those fans were chosen, which matches were available, or what ticket categories and prices would be offered.
FGG says: It's the latest saga in a confusing 2026 World Cup ticket process
For fans heading to North America for the tournament this summer, this latest mishap only reinforces concerns about transparency and the entire process.
With prices already extortionate, leading to backlash from several supporter groups, and communication inconsistent, FIFA’s latest gaffe risks further losing trust at a crucial moment.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, supporters will hope this is the last error in a ticketing process that has too often felt unnecessarily chaotic.