Problems with FIFA’s mobile app for World Cup tickets caused hundreds of fans to miss the start of England’s 6-2 rout of Iran on Monday morning (AEDT).
Fans said their tickets had disappeared from their phone apps as lines began to form outside the Khalifa International Stadium ahead of kickoff in Doha.
Although some fans had their ticket purchase verified with email checks, others appeared to have been sent into the stadium without further checks.
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The lines cleared at a ticketing help desk about 30 minutes into the game. It was unclear if each ticket holder’s problem was resolved or if fans had simply been sent in to see the game.
The claims come as the legitimacy of crowds at the tournament continue to be questioned.
“All the tickets I have have disappeared,” Sri Lanka fan Avinash Fernando told The Associated Press.
He and a friend, each had seven tickets for the tournament vanish.
Another fan said his tickets had vanished as well.
“I don’t have them anymore on the app. It might have been a hacker, I’m not sure,” he said.
FIFA acknowledged in a statement that “some spectators are currently experiencing an issue with accessing their tickets.”
“The issue is no tickets on the app,” England supporter John Eastern told the AP.
“I’m not sure I’ll get in.”
While the fans were waiting outside, play had stopped for about seven minutes to deal with Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s facial injury. He continued playing briefly but then was substituted.
As the kickoff approached, FIFA advised fans to check the inbox of the email account they used to register with the ticketing app.
“In case fans cannot access their email accounts, the stadium’s Ticket Resolution Point will be able to support them,” FIFA said.
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