FIFA World Cup Ticket Refund Delays Leave Fans Owed Thousands

Fans who sold World Cup 2026 tickets on FIFA’s official resale market are still waiting for their payments, with some amounts running into thousands of pounds. INLIBER Sport investigates the delays and what FIFA is doing to fix them.

Refunds are supposed to be issued within 60 calendar days of a sale, but many sellers report payments taking much longer. The delays appear linked to FIFA requesting extra bank details from sellers before transfers can be completed.

These payments come after FIFA opened a pre-sale draw in September that released around one million tickets for the tournament. Only Visa cardholders could apply in that phase, and FIFA has not publicly disclosed how many sellers are affected in total.

How the resale market works and what’s late

FIFA launched its official resale marketplace on 2 October, enabling ticket holders to list seats for any price they choose. The platform takes a 15% fee from both buyers and sellers, and the ongoing resale activity has occurred even as the main ticket ballot began later in December. While some early buyers and sellers used the marketplace, many are now reporting payment delays and confusing communications.

Real accounts from fans

England supporter Iain says he is owed about £650 for a ticket he sold for Canada’s opening game in Toronto, a sale completed more than two months ago. “FIFA are generating billions from this World Cup but can’t handle basic payment processing on time,” he told INLIBER Sport. “The delay seems to affect many people.”

A Mexican fan asked to remain anonymous shared evidence showing he is owed more than £8,000 from several sales finalized over two months ago. “It’s disappointing and expensive,” he said, explaining he has had to move money to cover other bills while waiting for refunds.

Several sellers say they received emails last month asking for bank details, despite earlier messages saying refunds would be automatically returned to the original payment method.

The market mechanics and recent pricing moves

FIFA’s resale marketplace opened on 2 October and let sellers set asking prices for their tickets. The platform charges a 15% fee on the sale for both buyers and sellers. Although the main ticket ballot opened in December, some fans who secured seats in earlier sales have already sold their tickets on FIFA’s platform, while others look to third‑party resale sites.

FIFA has warned buyers about unofficial resale sites and says its own marketplace is designed to protect against invalid or unauthorized resales.

What’s new for 2026 pricing

In response to pricing concerns, FIFA announced a limited batch of cheaper tickets for all 104 matches, priced around £45 each. In contrast, reports of the World Cup final price reaching as high as £6,615 have fueled criticism about affordability and access.

Expert view

“Refunds should move smoothly, but the repeated requests for bank details point to gaps in how data is collected and processed,” says a ticketing analyst. “Sellers deserve timely payments, and FIFA needs clearer, faster processes to prevent backlogs.”

Bottom line

Refund delays on FIFA’s official resale platform have affected fans across several countries, with some waiting well beyond the promised 60 days. FIFA says it is collecting missing information to speed payments, but buyers and sellers should keep records and monitor messages for updates. The episode highlights the need for transparent, reliable refunds in major sports events.

Summary

Fans report lengthy delays and requests for extra information regarding World Cup ticket refunds. The issues underscore the complexity of large-scale online resale platforms and the importance of clear, timely payment processing. FIFA has introduced cheaper ticket options to broaden access, but progress on refunds remains a key concern for supporters and organizers alike.

Key takeaway: Refund delays on FIFA’s official resale platform reveal gaps in payment processing and communication, underscoring the need for faster, clearer seller payments. BBC Sport

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