Fan's World Cup Ticket for Scotland vs. Morocco Game Becomes Unavailable After StubHub Purchase

Katherine Howe, an author based in Marblehead, Massachusetts, recently encountered an issue with a World Cup ticket she acquired via StubHub. Howe spent $750 on a ticket to see a Scotland versus Morocco game in Boston, scheduled for June 19.

After initially receiving an email confirmation for her purchase, Howe was notified on Monday, four days before the game, that her ticket was no longer available. She stated that securing the ticket was a significant event for her, having been a World Cup fan since 1994, and had even ordered a tartan skirt in anticipation of the match.

The notification email instructed Howe to click a link to choose a comparable ticket. However, upon accessing the provided website, she found only an option to process a refund. This led her to initiate a chat with customer service, where she was reportedly advised to "hold tight."

Howe speculates that StubHub, which operates as a marketplace for ticket resales, may have faced a situation where the original seller withdrew the ticket. She suggested this could have happened after Scotland won an earlier game, potentially allowing the seller to resell the ticket for a higher price or use it themselves, despite potentially incurring a fine from StubHub.

Her interest in the World Cup began in 1994 while living in Brazil, where she witnessed the tournament firsthand. She also recalled seeing Scottish fans during the 1998 World Cup in Paris, which was the last time Scotland qualified for the tournament before 2026. Howe recently became aware that World Cup games were being held in Boston, near her home, after seeing men in kilts at a train station, prompting her to search for tickets to see Scotland play.

According to Business Insider, Howe's experience highlights potential issues faced by fans using secondary ticket marketplaces.