How does speculative ticketing impact World Cup ticket availability?

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Speculative ticketing can reduce the number of World Cup tickets that are actually delivered to buyers as the tournament approaches.
Speculative ticketing is when a seller lists tickets they do not yet possess, planning to buy them later at a lower price to fill orders and profit. For World Cup tickets, prices were reported to rise as the tournament neared, which meant sellers who had listed without holding the tickets could struggle to fulfil orders without taking a loss, leading to last-minute cancellations and non-delivery for some buyers.
How speculative ticketing works in practice on resale platforms
A ticketing expert described speculative ticketing as listing a ticket months in advance at a set price, such as US$500, then hoping to purchase it later for less than US$500 to make a profit and complete the order. This is likened to shorting the stock market, but it relies on the expectation that the ticket price will fall rather than rise. For World Cup tickets, the reported pattern was that prices increased as the tournament moved closer, which undermined that expectation.
Why “ghost tickets” make non-delivery more likely
A key feature tied to these problems is the use of so-called “ghost tickets”, where seat numbers are not required at the time of listing. StubHub’s policy prohibits speculative ticketing, but “ghost tickets” remain common because listings may not include specific seat numbers, making it harder to verify that the seller already has the exact inventory. In the Wrights’ case, their StubHub order showed only “Category 3” seating and no seat numbers, and they bought the tickets on September 6, 2025, four days before FIFA launched its first official sales draw, suggesting the tickets were likely listed by a speculator.
FIFA’s infrastructure and resale transfers that can trigger cancellations
StubHub said FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure was affecting ticket transfers across all resale platforms, and that order cancellations were due to delivery problems from sellers rather than StubHub holding tickets itself. FIFA said its official ticket platform was operating reliably at scale and that its resale and exchange marketplace is the only platform through which it can guarantee proper delivery. This dispute matters for availability because when transfers fail, buyers can be left with fewer usable options close to kickoff, as shown by the Wrights receiving an email hours before the Netherlands vs Japan match that replacement tickets were available, but the only option offered during the claim process was a refund.
What buyers experienced as availability fell at the last minute
Dozens of ticket buyers complained on social media about last-minute cancellations on StubHub, often after assurances they would receive replacement tickets. StubHub offered the Wrights complimentary seats to a semi-final game and offered Gillespie US$3,000 to cover part of her costs after she had travelled for her Argentina vs Algeria match. The broader pattern described is that speculative listings and “ghost tickets” can translate into fewer tickets that reach buyers in time, especially when pricing trends make sellers unable to secure replacements without losses.

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How does speculative ticketing impact World Cup ticket availability?

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