FIFA has been delaying payment for resold tickets in latest World Cup problem

We are now one month away from the opening match of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. And the build-up to the tournament has been marred with controversy, particularly at how FIFA has treated this World Cup as an opportunity to scam its most passionate fans.

We've heard about the exorbitant prices, $100 trains and deceptive selling tactics at every turn. Even those who have been using FIFA's official resale platform have apparently dealt with their own issues.

For as much money as FIFA hopes to bring in with this World Cup, many fans who have used FIFA's resale platform have not been paid for their sold tickets. This comes after months of waiting and missed 60-day payment deadlines. FIFA also takes a 15 percent fee from both the buyer and seller on every transaction.

Via The Athletic:

Some fans who resold tickets in the fall or winter, though, still have not been paid.

“It’s insane what’s happening,” Marcos Medeiros, a Florida-based fan who resold multiple batches of tickets and waited over 100 days for some of his money, told The Athletic.

He, like others, said he filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission and other entities that fans hope will hold FIFA accountable.

In the months leading up to the World Cup, FIFA had claimed that its official resale platform was the only approved method for secondary market tickets. But since then, all the major resellers (StubHub, SeatGeek, TickPick) have listed tickets for the World Cup matches without that 30 percent surcharge.

FIFA went on to claim that the delays in payment were part of its review process.

FIFA, when asked about the reasons for resale payment delays, said in an emailed statement: “While the majority of cases are completed as expected, some more complex cases require additional review and therefore take longer to process. Payment timelines can also be affected where customer-provided information, such as bank details, is incomplete or requires further verification.

“FIFA remains committed to processing all payments as efficiently as possible while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, security, and compliance.”

But thus far, the entire experience around this tournament has been anything but reliable or fan friendly.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: FIFA reportedly delaying payment for resold World Cup tickets