FIFA Tickets Disappearing

Sport & Story Daily June 5, 2026: FIFA tickets are disappearing to secondary resale marketplaces.

Author

Kelsey Middleton
June 05, 2026

FIFA Tickets Disappearing

June 5, 2026

World Cup Tickets Vanish From FIFA—Appear to Reemerge on Resale Sites
Tens of thousands of 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets suddenly vanished from FIFA's official portal in late May and subsequently reemerged on secondary resale marketplaces like StubHub and SeatGeek. Experts suggest this massive, bulk inventory shift indicates a deliberate strategy by FIFA to quietly dump unsold seats at lower prices for lower-demand matches, allowing the organization to clear inventory without triggering refund demands or consumer protection issues from fans who already paid full face value. The controversial move comes amid a broader backdrop of plummeting resale prices driven by sluggish tournament demand and heavy criticism over FIFA's official "dynamic pricing" model. In response to the sudden inventory drop and a subsequent ticket-tampering probe launched by attorneys general in New York and New Jersey, FIFA has since released an additional 15,000 tickets back onto its official platform.
Newsweek

Eli Manning’s private equity firm acquires licensing company for NFL Flag in bet on youth sports
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s private equity firm, Brand Velocity Group, is acquiring RCX Sports, the company that manages official youth sports programs for major leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the transaction is backed by a prominent investor group that includes athlete partners like Emmitt Smith and Larry Fitzgerald. This acquisition comes amid growing political scrutiny, as a group of Democratic congressmen recently introduced the "Let Kids Play Act" to ban private equity firms from investing in youth sports over profit-extraction concerns. However, Manning emphasized that his firm's goal is to scale these programs to increase access, lower prices, and further champion initiatives like establishing flag football as a high school varsity sport.
CNBC

Mubadala becomes exclusive title sponsor of D.C. Open
The D.C. Open has signed an expanded, five-year sponsorship agreement with Mubadala Investment Company to make the Abu Dhabi firm the tournament’s exclusive title sponsor through 2030. As a result of the deal, the tournament will be officially rebranded from the Mubadala Citi D.C. Open to the Mubadala D.C. Open, as previous co-sponsor Citi will no longer sponsor the event. In exchange for exclusive title rights, Mubadala will receive expanded signage and hospitality assets while continuing its community-focused work providing tennis and educational programming for local youth. This year’s tournament, scheduled for July 25 through August 2 at Rock Creek Park, marks the 57th edition of the event and looks to continue a streak of 59 consecutive sold-out sessions since 2019.
Sports Business Journal

Roger Goodell won't testify about NFL's broadcasting deals
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has declined an invitation to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing regarding the league's broadcast deals and shift toward paywalled streaming services, citing ongoing litigation. The upcoming congressional scrutiny follows concerns from elected officials and a Justice Department investigation into whether the NFL's streaming partnerships violate antitrust exemptions granted by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. In defense of the league's strategy, NFL general counsel Ted Ullyot emphasized that 87% of games remain available over-the-air and argued that streaming platforms simply offer a greater reach than traditional pay TV. Furthermore, the league and several members of Congress warned that altering current broadcasting laws could disrupt revenue sharing and the salary cap, ultimately harming fans through increased costs and a loss of competitive balance.
ESPN

Everything Adam Silver Said About NBA Expansion, Tanking and More Ahead of Knicks vs. Spurs
During his annual pre-NBA Finals press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed ongoing domestic expansion discussions regarding Seattle and Las Vegas, noting that while it is not a foregone conclusion, the league's board will make a decision by the end of the calendar year. Additionally, he confirmed that plans for a new independent European league in partnership with FIBA are on track to launch for the 2027–28 season, with franchise bids due at the end of June. Silver also discussed the league's ongoing efforts to curb tanking, specifically highlighting new "3-2-1" draft lottery format rules approved by the board of governors to take effect next season. Finally, he briefly mentioned his and Michael Jordan's unsuccessful attempts to resolve the long-standing feud between Charles Oakley and New York Knicks governor James Dolan.
Bleacher Report

Gotham FC fires general manager Alyse LaHue
Gotham FC officially announced the firing of general manager Alyse LaHue following an NWSL investigation into a complaint regarding a league policy violation. A source confirmed to The Athletic that the investigation was tied to the league's anti-harassment policy, though specific details of the complaint remain confidential. LaHue, who had been away from the team since late June, issued a statement through her attorney denying all allegations made against her. While vice chair Ed Nalbandian temporarily oversees day-to-day operations, the club's ownership faces the immediate challenge of finding a successor to handle both the business and soccer operations that LaHue had previously turned around.
The Athletic

French WNBA Player Is First Known Project B Dropout
French forward Janelle Salaün has officially left Project B to join the Turkish EuroLeague club Galatasaray, making her the first known dropout from the global basketball league’s upcoming inaugural season. Salaün, who currently plays for the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries, was initially announced as part of the lucrative startup league in late November. Project B organizers expressed support for her personal decision to return to EuroLeague play and recently announced the signing of another rising French star, Leïla Lacan, for their 2027 season. The league's debut season remains scheduled to run from December 2026 to April 2027 across seven global stops, featuring a star-studded roster that still includes major WNBA headlines like Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas.
Front Office Sports

TPC Network. Food & Beverage Manager.
This position is primarily responsible for all aspects of ala carte dining operations. Acting as a liaison between Club management, service staff and members/guests, focusing on ensuring exceptional service levels. Apply Now.

Dallas Stars. Assistant Controller.
The Assistant Controller supports the Controller in overseeing the day-to-day, monthly, and annual operations of the Accounting Department. This role is responsible for financial reporting, general accounting, treasury functions, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and budgetary controls for assigned entities and departments. The Assistant Controller also plays a key role in managing staff, maintaining internal controls, and improving financial processes and reporting efficiency.  This position is partially eligible for remote work, with supervisor approval. Apply Now.

U.S. Soccer Federation. Product Designer, Mobile
The Product Designer will own the design of U.S. Soccer's mobile application, the iOS and Android experience that connects members, fans, and participants to the game across the country. Reporting to the Director of Product, this individual will own the end-to-end mobile design experience and serve as the design lead for the app, setting up the bar for craft, usability, and brand expression on a platform that touches our community every day. Apply Now.

Looking to fill an open position with top talent in the sports media industry? Advertise in the Sport & Story Daily to reach over 25,000 senior-level executives and professionals—and connect your job opportunity with the right audience.

College football game moved away from Brazil
The season-opening college football game between North Carolina State and Virginia, originally scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been moved back to Virginia's Scott Stadium. The schools shifted the August 29 fixture after event organizer Athlete's Advantage informed them that the game could not be conducted as planned. While both universities were initially set to receive $2 million each for the international matchup, the contract's cancellation clause may now require the organizer to pay them $1.5 million each in damages. Despite this relocation, global college football and NFL games are still slated to proceed later this year in international venues across Dublin, London, and São Paulo.
The Stadium Business

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