StubHub faces legal battle after costing fans thousands as ‘cancelled’ tickets ruin World Cup dreams

StubHub is facing mounting legal pressure after hundreds of football supporters were left without 2026 World Cup tickets despite paying thousands of pounds through the resale platform.

The controversy has escalated further after two fans launched proposed class-action legal proceedings, while more supporters continue to come forward with similar stories.

StubHub have handed many World Cup fans a ticketing nightmare

StubHub has been hit with a proposed class‑action lawsuit after supporters claimed they were left stranded outside 2026 World Cup stadiums despite purchasing tickets months in advance.

As revealed by the New York Post, California residents Reuben Renteria and Julie Reeker Moghal say they paid more than $1,900 (£1,425) each for tickets that were either cancelled shortly before kick‑off or never delivered, leaving them out of pocket for travel, hotels and other expenses.

Renteria travelled from Los Angeles to Mexico for the hosts’ match against South Korea only to discover his $2,294 (£1,720) order had been cancelled, while Moghal spent $1,905 (£1,430) on three tickets for a game at SoFi Stadium and was repeatedly assured replacements would arrive – but they never did.

The lawsuit argues both suffered substantial financial losses beyond ticket costs, and they are far from alone.

Other fans – as reported by the BBC – have had similar experiences, including Sergio Enrique Alvarado Montalvo, who spent nearly $6,000 (£4,500) on a trip to watch Lionel Messi before StubHub informed him the seller could not provide the tickets, and Boston father Eben Pingree, whose family’s $2,800 purchase for Scotland vs Haiti at Gillette Stadium vanished on matchday.

Industry experts say speculative ticketing – sellers listing tickets they do not yet own – is a major factor behind the chaos.

StubHub insists speculative listings are banned and points to its FanProtect Guarantee, blaming FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure for many failures. FIFA, however, maintains that its official platform is reliable and remains the only guaranteed resale channel.

FGG says: You are always taking a huge risk with unofficial resale sites

For a company as large as StubHub, the volume of complaints surrounding this World Cup is deeply concerning, particularly given the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the tournament for so many supporters.

While refunds may cover the cost of the tickets themselves, they do little for fans who have already spent thousands on flights, hotels and time off work.

It also serves as another reminder that buying through unofficial resale platforms always carries an element of risk, especially for major sporting events where demand dramatically outstrips supply.