New Delhi: FIFA has withdrawn the 2026 World Cup tickets that had been mistakenly issued to about 60 supporters following a technical error on its website, which allowed them to book seats without making any payment, the global football body confirmed on Thursday.

According to FIFA, the affected fans were informed on Wednesday that their tickets had been “allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process.” The organisation stated that the issue was linked to a malfunction that occurred during online transactions.

“The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount. FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” the governing body said in its statement.

FIFA had opened ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup through its official website on May 21. The incident took place more than three months after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that tickets for all 104 matches of the expanded competition had been sold out.

This latest error has further intensified scrutiny on FIFA’s ticketing operations, which are currently under investigation by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey for potential breaches of consumer protection laws.

Despite earlier claims from the FIFA President, tickets for the 48-team tournament are still available through FIFA’s official sales channels ahead of the event’s opening next Thursday in Mexico City. It remains uncertain whether prices for less sought-after fixtures will drop under FIFA’s dynamic pricing model, a system that has faced heavy criticism from fans.

Additionally, FIFA is managing its own ticket resale platform, charging a 15 percent commission from both buyers and sellers. Supporters worldwide have expressed frustration over the 2026 World Cup’s ticket prices, which are considerably higher than those of previous tournaments.

In response to the criticism, FIFA has defended its pricing policy, stating that the revenue generated will be utilised to support football development initiatives across its member associations. The governing body has taken direct control of ticket pricing and sales as part of its strategy to manage the tournament’s operations internally.