Reports that World Cup fans have lost thousands of dollars due to cancelled tickets have sparked an investigation into StubHub, a third-party ticket retailer.
The probe was announced by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a July 3 press release, which said that “fans across the country,” including those in host cities like Dallas and Houston, have reported that StubHub cancelled their tickets days or “even hours” before kickoff. StubHub said the cancellations stem from “transfer problems” on FIFA’s ticketing platform, but the release said that “consumer complaints point to a broader pattern often called ‘ghost ticketing,'” in which sellers list tickets “they do not actually possess, collect payment, and then cancel when they cannot deliver.”
What is ‘ghost ticketing’?
“Ghost ticketing” refers to the listing of tickets that sellers don’t actually possess, for which they collect payment and then cancel when “they cannot deliver,” according to the release.
Some tickets in Texas were cancelled days or, in some cases, hours prior to the beginning of certain matches, said the release.
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StubHub’s website states that “StubHub is the world’s largest ticket marketplace with over 50 million ticket listings for sports, concerts, theater, and more. We’ve gotten hundreds of thousands of fans into the past three World Cups.”
The ticket reseller also provides a FanProtect Guarantee, in the “rare case” that there is an issue with an order.
Is ‘ghost ticketing’ legal in Florida?
According to the website of the Florida Senate, Florida stipulates that, under certain conditions, website operators must guarantee full refunds for the amount someone pays for a ticket if the event is cancelled or the buyer is denied admission to the event through no fault of their own. Anyone who “knowingly” resells a ticket in violation of the listed rules could be “liable to the state for a civil penalty equal to treble the amount of the price for which the ticket or tickets were resold.”
What does FIFA say about buying World Cup tickets via third-party vendors?
According to FIFA’s website, there are risks to buying tickets from third-party sites, and the organization “strongly recommend[s]” making purchases only through FIFA.com/tickets.
FIFA’s site features a marketplace where residents of “most countries” can resell their tickets, and where Mexican residents can exchange them.
Those interested can also buy tickets to FIFA World Cup matches on StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
What is the schedule for World Cup games in Florida? See start times
Miami is set to host seven matches at Hard Rock Stadium, which has been renamed Miami Stadium for the World Cup. Here are the dates:
Are tickets to the 2026 World Cup still available?
Yes, as of July 7, last-minute tickets are still available at FIFA.com/tickets.
Can you still get tickets to World Cup Games in Miami Stadium, aka Hard Rock? How expensive are they?
As of July 7, tickets for the Miami games range from $3,400 to $5,500, depending on the game.
Last-minute tickets, while highly-priced, are still down from May, when tickets to all of Miami’s games started at $11,750.
Where are Florida’s World Cup games being played?
Hard Rock Stadium, which has been renamed Miami Stadium for the World Cup, is located at 347 Don Shula Dr., in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Where to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
In the United States, Fox holds the broadcast rights for the entire tournament, according to USA TODAY. You can stream the games every match on FOX One or via the FOX Sports App, which requires signing in with a TV provider.
NBCUniversal will air the Spanish-language rights, and Bell Media will broadcast the games in Canada.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Connect Team. Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Alleged World Cup ‘ghost ticketing’ sparks investigation into StubHub
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, Sarah Perkel and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Natassia Paloma, Sarah Perkel and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
