SOCCER: World Cup fans sue StubHub over cancelled tickets

NEW YORK — World Cup fans have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against StubHub, accusing the ticket resale platform of failing to deliver expensive tickets purchased through the secondary market for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday night in federal court in Manhattan, alleges that thousands of fans did not receive the tickets they paid for, despite purchasing them through StubHub.

In a statement, StubHub declined to comment on the pending litigation but said its goal is to ensure fans can attend events. The company added that its FanProtect Guarantee offers replacement tickets or full refunds if problems occur, and argued that many of the issues experienced during the World Cup were caused by the tournament organizer's ticketing system.

FIFA had previously urged fans to use only its official ticket resale platform, describing it as a reliable option.

During the tournament, which is being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, fans took to social media to complain about last-minute ticket cancellations and alleged failures by StubHub to provide promised replacement tickets.

Many affected fans said they traveled long distances to attend matches and argued that refunds alone did not cover the cost of airfare, accommodations, and other travel expenses.

The complaint alleges that fans suffered significant financial losses after paying large sums for tickets that were never delivered. It also accuses the sports ticketing industry of repeatedly failing to protect consumers.

The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages on behalf of thousands of U.S. customers who allegedly did not receive World Cup tickets purchased through StubHub, citing violations of consumer protection and false advertising laws. -Reporting by Amy Tennery and Shariq Khan in New York, additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien/Reuters