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Class action lawsuit against StubHub for World Cup tickets filed in B.C. court. Published 1:35 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2026 StubHub's website shown here on July 21, 2026. A Vancouver man has filed a proposed national class action lawsuit against StubHub after World Cup tickets he bought never materialized. (Lauren Collins/Black Press Media) A Vancouver man has filed a proposed national class action lawsuit against StubHub after World Cup tickets he bought never materialized. Vancouver-based Westpoint Law Group announced the proposed class action against StubHub on Friday (July 17). The defendants are Delaware-based StubHub Inc., StubHub Canada Ltd., Delaware-based viagogo Entertainment Inc. and Switzerland-based viagogo GmbH. They're all subsidiaries of StubHub Holdings, Inc. Mark Gallagher, on March 7, 2026, purchased two sets of tickets to the June 18 Canada vs. Qatar match in Vancouver for $11,407.11 and $2,011.28. That included fees of $2,442.51 and $441.01, respectively. The same day, he also paid $5,765.15 for two tickets to the June 24 Canada vs. Switzerland match in Vancouver. That included a fee of $1,240.36. None of the purchase confirmations included exact seat numbers. The two Qatar tickets that cost $2,011.28 were listed as "Category 2" without specifying a section, row or seat number, while the other two Qatar tickets specified section 244 and row 1, but not the seat number. The Switzerland tickets only specified a section and row. Gallagher was notified on June 14 that the two Qatar tickets that cost $11,407.11 were ready for delivery with instructions on how to obtain them. However, when he followed the instructions, he was unable to obtain them. He contacted StubHub's helpline and he was told they would be available the next day with instructions once again. They weren't available the next day despite following the instructions. He contacted the help line via phone and chat multiple times in the days leading up to the match and was told by staff in locations in Mexico, India and other countries that his file had been "escalated" and would be available the "next day." In the day before the event, he was told his tickets would be available within "two to three hours." Gallagher stayed online until about 4 a.m. the day of the Qatar match, but the tickets never materialized. Shortly before the match started, StubHub help line staff said there were no tickets as promised. The lawsuit claims that StubHub didn't provide alternative seats comparable to the tickets Gallagher purchased "despite there being comparable tickets available." The lawsuit alleges that the defendants "implemented a scheme to sell event tickets they either knew did not exist when advertised, or were procured in breach of the laws of the respective place where an event would occur," according to the news release from Westpoint Law Group. It also claims that the defendants "provided a guarantee, at least parts of which they knew would not or could not be honoured." The suit also alleges that the defendants knowingly advertised tickets for sale "that they knew, or ought to have known," were acquired through software that is "designed to circumvent equitable ticket buying processes." Gallagher, the lawsuit says, "reasonably relied" on StubHub's guarantee "but was not provided with comparable tickets, despite those being available and advertised as such on the defendants' websites and apps." It adds that if Gallagher knew that StubHub didn't have possession or control of the tickets, or was unable to deliver them, then he wouldn't have bought the tickets. The lawsuit says that StubHub charges "significant fees to buyers and sellers of tickets," but its 'FanProtect Guarantee' promises consumers "You will get your tickets in time for the event" or "Your tickets will be valid for entry." But the lawsuit adds that despite the assurances, StubHub "regularly declines to honour the Guarantee." The suit adds that StubHub should know that "at least some" of the tickets it offers on its website did not exist when made available to purchase. It claims StubHub advertised and allowed speculative 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets before any were actually released. Gallagher is seeking a declaration from StubHub that they have contravened the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and the Ticket Sales Act, and that class members are entitled to monetary damages and/or restitution. He's also seeking general and special damages, among other relief. When the purchased tickets are unavailable, StubHub "does not provide comparable or better tickets" and instead "knowingly provides inferior tickets and/or refuses to offer refunds." Proposed class action members are people who purchased a resale ticket for an event held in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec or Ontario and whose ticket never materialized through any of the defendants or who were provided with a different ticket than the one purchased since March 31, 2025. The lawsuit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on July 15. StubHub has not yet filed a response. Responses must be filed within 21 days if the defendants live in Canada or 49 days if they reside elsewhere. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.

Chicago Stars FC partners with StubHub. Chicago Stars FC has named StubHub its official fan marketplace and open distribution partner for the remainder of the 2026 National Women's Soccer League season. The partnership aims to provide fans with greater access and flexibility when purchasing tickets to Chicago Stars matches at Martin Stadium in Evanston for the rest of the current campaign, which concludes on November 21. "Women's soccer is experiencing unprecedented growth, and our responsibility is to ensure that every fan who wants to be part of that movement has an easy and convenient way to access our matches," said Chicago Stars FC vice president of partnerships Sara Arnold. "StubHub has demonstrated a meaningful commitment to investing in women's sports and expanding opportunities for fans to engage with their favourite teams. "We're excited to partner with an organisation that shares our vision for growing the game and creating memorable experiences for supporters across Chicago and beyond." The agreement sees StubHub's presence across women's sports grow, following existing partnerships with organisations including the Chicago Sky and Athletes Unlimited. Through StubHub's marketplace and open distribution network, the Stars hope to reach new audiences and provide supporters with additional pathways to experience the NWSL in person. "Open Distribution lets the Chicago Stars use StubHub's marketing reach and audience to sell tickets while keeping control of their brand, data and fan relationships," said Alexa Fuentes, director of soccer partnerships at StubHub. "Women's soccer is one of the fastest-growing categories on our platform, and we're proud to help the Stars turn that momentum into fans in seats at Martin Stadium."

StubHub's ethical crossroads: A deep dive into controversial practices. StubHub's CEO, Eric Baker, is reportedly linked to funds that help finance mass scalpers on his own platform, contributing to market instability and high ticket prices. This, alongside past lawsuits for deceptive pricing, raises serious trust issues for consumers. Published July 11, 2026 Reading Time 5 min Verdict: A troubling entanglement undermining trust. StubHub, a prominent player in the secondary ticket market, faces a significant credibility crisis. Recent investigations by CBC, supported by StubHub's own SEC filings from September 2025, reveal a deeply concerning conflict of interest: CEO Eric Baker is reportedly a part owner and managing director of Andro Capital. This fund actively assists mass scalpers in selling tickets in bulk on StubHub. Further compounding the issue, StubHub partners with Colloquy Capital, an Andro affiliate, which purportedly bankrolls these very same scalpers. This entanglement directly fuels market instability, contributing to exorbitant ticket prices and a generally frustrating user experience. For consumers, these revelations raise serious questions about the platform's integrity and its commitment to fair pricing, casting a long shadow over its operations. Unpacking the conflict: CEO involvement in mass scalping. The core of the controversy lies in the alleged direct involvement of StubHub's CEO, Eric Baker, in financial vehicles that support mass scalping. Andro Capital, a fund where Baker holds a leadership role, reportedly helps mass scalpers offload large volumes of tickets on the StubHub platform. The scale of this operation is not insignificant, with Baker's fund contributing to millions of dollars in ticket sales on StubHub, as outlined in the company's SEC filings. Adding another layer to this intricate web, StubHub maintains a partnership with Colloquy Capital, an affiliate of Andro, which provides financial backing to these same mass scalpers. This arrangement effectively creates a closed loop where the platform's leadership is allegedly profiting from the very activities that many users find detrimental. While a StubHub spokesperson suggested to CBC that this information isn't entirely new, the company's and Baker's lack of transparency regarding this "problematic entanglement" has undoubtedly surprised a vast majority of its user base. This opacity has done little to foster consumer confidence, leaving many to wonder about the true beneficiaries of the current ticket resale ecosystem. The real user experience: skyrocketing prices and market instability. For the average consumer seeking tickets to live events, the disclosed practices have a tangible and negative impact on their user experience. The resale marketplace, generally, is already a difficult terrain to navigate, characterized by the presence of bots, wildly inconsistent pricing, and often-hidden fees that only appear at checkout. This instability is largely driven by mass scalpers. The investigation suggests that through Andro and Colloquy, StubHub's CEO is effectively "pouring millions of dollars into this pipeline," exacerbating the problem rather than mitigating it. This direct funding and support for large-scale scalping operations contribute significantly to the phenomenon of skyrocketing ticket prices for live events. What was once an accessible form of entertainment for many is rapidly becoming a luxury, largely due to artificial scarcity and inflated prices in the secondary market. The integrity of the ticketing experience, which should ideally be about connecting fans with events, is instead seen by many as being compromised by practices that prioritize profit margins derived from market manipulation. A history of consumer disputes and legal challenges. This latest revelation does not occur in a vacuum; StubHub has faced a series of consumer-related controversies and legal challenges in recent years. The platform has previously been accused of price gouging and employing unfair consumer practices. Most notably, in April 2026, StubHub was compelled to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over charges that it deceptively advertised ticket prices, leading to unexpected additional costs for consumers. More recently, the company garnered criticism for canceling thousands of World Cup ticket orders, an issue that has led to StubHub reportedly facing two potential class-action lawsuits in the United States. These recurring problems, ranging from deceptive pricing to order cancellations, paint a picture of a company struggling with consistent consumer trust and regulatory compliance. Considering StubHub handled an immense $9.2 billion in ticket transactions in 2025, these issues impact a significant number of consumers globally. Recommendation: proceed with extreme caution. Given the recent findings regarding the CEO's alleged financial ties to mass scalping operations, coupled with a history of consumer complaints and legal settlements, its recommendation for potential StubHub users is to proceed with extreme caution. The platform's operational ethics, as highlighted by these reports, appear to be in direct conflict with consumer interests for fair and transparent ticket pricing. While StubHub remains a significant player in the ticket resale market, the ongoing controversies suggest that the current system may be designed in a way that benefits large-scale sellers and platform executives more than the individual fan. Until greater transparency is established, and effective measures are put in place to genuinely curb mass scalping and deceptive pricing, consumers should be wary of the potential for inflated costs, hidden fees, and the overall volatility of securing tickets through the platform. Exploring alternative, more regulated primary ticket sources or platforms with clearer ethical guidelines might be a more consumer-friendly approach for now. Faq. Q: What is the main concern regarding StubHub's CEO? A: The main concern is that StubHub's CEO, Eric Baker, is reportedly involved as a part owner and managing director of Andro Capital, a fund that helps finance and facilitate mass ticket scalpers selling in bulk on StubHub. This is further complicated by StubHub's partnership with Colloquy Capital, which also reportedly bankrolls scalpers. Q: How do these practices affect consumers buying tickets on StubHub? A: These practices contribute to market instability, inconsistent pricing, and ultimately, skyrocketing ticket prices. The involvement of mass scalpers, allegedly funded through entities tied to StubHub's leadership, creates an artificial scarcity and inflated costs, making live event tickets less accessible and the buying experience frustrating due to hidden fees and price gouging concerns. Q: Has StubHub faced similar issues or lawsuits before? A: Yes, StubHub has a history of consumer-related issues. In April 2026, the company paid $10 million to settle an FTC lawsuit over deceptive ticket pricing. Additionally, it recently faced criticism for canceling thousands of World Cup ticket orders and is reportedly facing two potential class-action lawsuits in the US related to those cancellations.