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New York mom accidentally buys $8,100 World Cup parking pass instead of match tickets

Elizabeth Saitta of Long Island paid $772 for two seats to Brazil vs. Morocco at MetLife Stadium, only to find an additional $8,100 charge for a parking pass on her StubHub order. The company initially refused a refund before reversing course after media pressure.

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New York mom accidentally buys $8,100 World Cup parking pass instead of match tickets
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A Long Island mother who bought World Cup tickets as a Christmas gift for her son found herself facing an unexpected $8,100 charge after accidentally purchasing a parking pass through StubHub alongside her seats for Brazil vs. Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Elizabeth Saitta told NBC New York she had used the resale platform to buy two tickets to Saturday’s match, paying $772 plus insurance. Only after completing the transaction did she notice the additional charge — a parking pass that had somehow been added to her order.

Saitta said she contacted StubHub within seconds of spotting the error to request a refund. The company initially denied her claim, but reversed its decision after NBC New York approached StubHub for comment.

“Hallelujah!… It was just amazing,” Saitta said of the resolution.

A StubHub spokesperson told The Independent the company “can’t speak to the specifics” of individual customer accounts, but confirmed it “worked with her directly to provide the documentation needed to process her refund, and she received a full refund.”

The incident highlights the complexity — and cost — of attending this summer’s tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday in Mexico City, with the United States set to host more than 70 matches across eleven states. The final is scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium.

Ticket prices have drawn widespread frustration. Even President Donald Trump weighed in last month, telling the New York Post: “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you,” when asked about four-figure seat prices.

A new poll by Emerson College also suggests the record costs may be dampening domestic enthusiasm. Around 45 percent of U.S. voters said they have no interest in the World Cup at all, while only 22 percent described themselves as “very interested.” Interest was markedly higher among younger Americans — 38 percent of voters under 40 said they were very interested, compared with just 10 percent of those aged 70 and over.

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