FIFA stops Vancouver charity’s World Cup ticket raffle over ticketing rules

FIFA has ordered a Vancouver-based charity supporting people with spinal cord injuries to cancel a raffle for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets, in a case that underlines how tightly World Cup organisers are policing ticket use and tournament branding.According to The Athletic, Spinal Cord Injury BC received cease-and-desist letters from a law firm acting for FIFA after promoting a draw offering two tickets for New Zealand v Egypt at BC Place on June 21.The charity had planned to sell raffle entries with proceeds earmarked for its support programmes, after a staff member bought two Category 2 tickets in the lower bowl.The legal warning said the promotion breached FIFA’s ticketing policy and trademark rules, and it also raised the risk that the tickets might not be released at all if the charity proceeded.FIFA’s ticket regulations prohibit using tickets for contests, sweepstakes or promotional activities unless FIFA has granted authorisation.FIFA confirmed its stance in a statement, saying: “Tickets are issued as personal, revocable licenses and cannot be used for raffles or competition purposes.”FIFA said the restrictions are designed to protect integrity and allocation, adding: “These provisions are intended to protect the integrity and fair allocation of tickets, ensure that access is provided through controlled and secure channels, and safeguard the commercial rights that underpin the organisation and delivery of the FIFA World Cup.”Spinal Cord Injury BC said it complied and cancelled the raffle rather than risk an extended dispute and potential loss of the tickets.Chris McBride, executive director of Spinal Cord Injury BC, said: “We complied with the trademark issue and decided that it was not worth the time and risk involved to move forward with the raffle. As a charitable non-profit organization, the revenue we bring in is essential for our services and the impact we make through them.”The charity refunded all entrants, with some supporters choosing to donate their payments instead.McBride said: “While disappointed that we can’t benefit from the World Cup being hosted in our province and to provide our dedicated supporters — most who would not be able to afford or access the tickets, with an opportunity to attend a game — we have to respect FIFA’s policies.”FIFA linked its policy position to its wider impact messaging, pointing to its pledge to contribute US$1 per World Cup ticket sold to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.The incident also shines a light on the operational reality facing community groups and small organisations during a World Cup cycle, where the commercial protections around ticketing and intellectual property can limit grassroots-led fundraising and local activations.The staff member who bought the tickets now intends to resell them through FIFA’s official marketplace, a route that would take fees from both buyer and seller under the platform’s standard terms.