British Columbia’s Attorney General Niki Sharma has initiated a probe into StubHub, an online ticket resale platform, regarding its management of tickets for the FIFA World Cup. This investigation follows a CBC News report uncovering a widespread issue with the ticket reseller and its cancellation of numerous fan tickets for World Cup games in Vancouver, Toronto, and other North American host cities.
Sharma expressed deep concern over reports of individuals in B.C. purchasing tickets through StubHub but not receiving them, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a seamless and worry-free experience for major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026.
While refraining from discussing specific details of the investigation, Sharma mentioned that the province is actively monitoring the situation. She highlighted the independent examination by Consumer Protection B.C. under the Ticket Sales Act to determine potential breaches of the law in response to the complaints.
Although StubHub has pledged to honor refund guarantees for impacted fans, it has attributed difficulties in delivering tickets to fans to FIFA’s ticketing technology. Industry insiders have pointed out that professional scalpers may be involved in canceling and reselling tickets for higher profits or failing to fulfill orders for “speculative tickets.”
Scott Friedman, a seasoned ticketing industry professional, noted that StubHub is known for allowing speculative ticketing practices, not only for the World Cup but also for various global events. This practice, prohibited in some U.S. states, has been linked to similar ticket cancellation incidents involving major tours.
One Vancouver resident, Kirat Malik, shared her experience of having to repurchase tickets directly from FIFA for a match after StubHub canceled her original tickets. Malik expressed frustration over the hours spent dealing with StubHub for a refund, underscoring the impact on fans’ once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
CBC News has also contacted Ontario’s attorney general due to reports from fans attending matches in Toronto who had their StubHub-purchased tickets canceled abruptly without explanation.