As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches—kicking off in just one month across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—excitement is building. But for many fans, that excitement has turned into frustration. The tournament's lead-up has been plagued by controversy, with many feeling that FIFA is treating its most loyal supporters unfairly.

From sky-high ticket prices to $100 train rides and deceptive sales tactics, the complaints keep coming. Now, even those using FIFA's official resale platform are facing major headaches.

Despite FIFA's massive revenue expectations for this World Cup, many fans who sold tickets through the platform still haven't been paid—even months after the sale. The platform promises payment within 60 days, but numerous sellers report waiting far longer. To add insult to injury, FIFA charges a 15 percent fee on both the buyer and seller for every transaction.

Take Marcos Medeiros, a Florida-based fan who sold multiple batches of tickets. He waited over 100 days for some of his payments. "It's insane what's happening," he told The Athletic. Like many others, he's filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and other agencies, hoping to hold FIFA accountable.

In the months leading up to the tournament, FIFA claimed its official resale platform was the only approved way to buy and sell secondary market tickets. But major resellers like StubHub, SeatGeek, and TickPick now list World Cup tickets—without that steep 30 percent surcharge.

FIFA attributes the payment delays to a review process. In a statement, the organization said: "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 resolving these issues, but for fans waiting on thousands of dollars, the clock is ticking louder than ever.