Canadian Fans Grab 150 Free World Cup Tickets Through Qatar FA Loophole
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 18
Canadian Fans Grab 150 Free World Cup Tickets Through Qatar FA Loophole
3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 18
Summary
More than 150 Canada supporters obtained free World Cup tickets meant for Qatar fans ahead of Thursday’s Group B match in Vancouver, according to Sports Illustrated sources.
Qatar FA’s signup process required only FIFA account details and a self-declared Arab nationality, with no proof checks, letting applicants in North America claim tickets by selecting any Arab country.
The tickets are part of a state-backed effort that funded travel and hotels for 800 of 1,000 fans from the Middle East, but the same pool was promoted on social media and spread beyond Qatar supporters.
That could blunt Qatar’s visible support in Vancouver even though hundreds of its fans are still expected, while Canada backers use the free seats to avoid prices that otherwise started around $80.