FIFA pulls Toronto World Cup tickets from resale platform after Ontario law crackdown

FIFA has withdrawn World Cup tickets for matches scheduled at Toronto’s BMO Field from its official resale platform, following the introduction of new legislation in Ontario aimed at curbing ticket price inflation.

The move comes in response to the province’s recently passed ‘Putting Fans First Act’, which explicitly prohibits the resale of event tickets above their original face value.

The law also bars individuals or platforms from facilitating secondary market sales that exceed the listed price, marking a significant intervention in a space that has long been criticised for excessive markups.

FIFA, which oversees the tournament’s official resale and exchange marketplace, has indicated that its platform is designed to operate within the regulatory frameworks of host nations.

With Ontario’s new rules now in effect, the governing body has opted to suspend resale listings for all six matches set to be played in Toronto, pending compliance adjustments.

The decision means Toronto currently stands as the only host city among the 16 venues for the 2026 tournament without active resale ticket listings. Fixtures affected include Canada’s opening match of the tournament, where the host nation is scheduled to face Bosnia on June 12. While resale options are temporarily unavailable, standard face-value tickets remain accessible through FIFA’s primary sales channels.

Across the broader tournament, demand for tickets remains high. FIFA has confirmed that more than five million tickets have already been sold, out of an anticipated total exceeding six million. The governing body continues to release additional tickets in phases, with availability expected to fluctuate up to the final scheduled for July 19.

However, FIFA’s ticketing model has faced sustained scrutiny, particularly over its adoption of dynamic pricing and the structure of its resale marketplace. Under the current system, ticket holders have been able to list seats at significantly inflated prices, leading to extreme cases that have drawn public criticism and renewed calls for tighter oversight.

In defending its approach, FIFA has maintained that its resale platform is part of a broader, not-for-profit framework, with revenues channelled back into the global development of the sport.

Nonetheless, Ontario’s legislative intervention signals a growing willingness among host jurisdictions to regulate ticketing practices more aggressively in favour of consumer protection.

FIFA is expected to relist Toronto match tickets on its resale platform once adjustments are made to ensure full compliance with the province’s new pricing rules. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is set to kick off on June 11.