Consumer Protection BC has opened an investigation into complaints surrounding FIFA World Cup tickets purchased through StubHub.
It’s investigating whether or not the law has been broken regarding the FIFA ticket sales. The B.C. organization confirmed with Daily Hive that there was an open investigation into StubHub’s ticket-selling practices.
It said that it has received three complaints from consumers who say they purchased FIFA World Cup tickets through StubHub and never received them.
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma has commented on the investigation, saying, “Reports that people in B.C. purchased FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets from StubHub and did not receive them are deeply concerning. Major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 should be an exciting experience and people should not have to worry about whether the tickets they purchased on StubHub will be honoured.
“While I cannot comment on this investigation directly, and StubHub has publicly committed to honouring its refund guarantees to fans, I want people to know they may have options available to them if they have been affected.”
Sharma’s suggested options included reaching out to Consumer Protection BC directly. Ticket buyers can learn more about their rights, look into potential refund options, or file a complaint directly through Consumer Protection.
“People should feel confident when buying event tickets. B.C.’s Ticket Sales Act is helping protect consumers, and Consumer Protection BC has taken enforcement action in the past, including reaching an agreement with StubHub to provide refunds to customers who did not receive clear and accurate information about their tickets for the December 2024 Taylor Swift concerts in Vancouver,” Sharma said.
The Attorney General’s Office adds that timelines can vary, but depending on the circumstances, ticket cancellations may only take place 30 days from when the tickets were to be provided or the date of the event.
Consumer Protection BC couldn’t say more due to the fact that the investigations are ongoing.
StubHub declined to comment on Sharma’s statement but did offer some background, suggesting that what some are experiencing is a transfer problem, not a ticket problem.
“The issues fans have experienced at this World Cup are largely transfer problems, not ticket problems. The event organizer’s own ticketing infrastructure, including a new app launched right before the tournament began, has had significant performance issues that have affected transfers across all resale platforms,” a StubHub spokesperson said.
“We’ve responded by standing up a dedicated World Cup support team and expanding our capacity to source replacement tickets for affected customers. Every order is backed by our FanProtect Guarantee, and getting fans to their matches remains our top priority for the rest of this tournament,” the spokesperson added.
Did you buy FIFA tickets through StubHub, and did you have any issues?
StubHub was in the news a few months ago regarding an investigation into Taylor Swift concert tickets, leading to some concertgoers being entitled to refunds.