This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Katherine Howe, a historian and novelist. It has been edited for length and clarity.
On Monday, I opened my emails to find that my ticket to the Scotland versus Morocco World Cup game was no longer available.
Getting this ticket was years in the making.
In 1994, I watched my first-ever World Cup game while living in Brazil. I was in a small, rural town with lots of local Brazilians watching on a small TV. Everyone went wild when Brazil actually won the entire tournament.
Like most Americans at the time, I wasn’t aware that the World Cup even existed, but I imbibed the excitement and passion for the tournament while in Brazil that year.
The World Cup is one of the few global phenomena. It breaks barriers — with everyone from all around the world getting involved. Even countries as small as Curaçao can take part.
Although I’m not a regular soccer fan, I became a World Cup fan in 1994. Four years later, I was in Paris when the World Cup was held there. It was the last year Scotland qualified for the World Cup before 2026. I have vivid memories of the streets of Paris being flooded with people in kilts, having the time of their lives.
I couldn’t afford to go to the matches, but again, I loved the togetherness and passion of the tournament.
Fast forward 28 years
I found out that the World Cup was happening in the United States earlier this year, something that hadn’t been on my radar previously.
I didn’t consider looking for tickets — unaware that games would be in Boston, only about an hour away from where I live in Massachusetts.
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Last weekend, on Saturday, I was at the Boston train station when I suddenly saw all these men in kilts. It suddenly clicked — Scotland was playing Haiti in Boston later that day. It felt like I had been transported back to Paris 28 years ago, with Scottish accents and tartan surrounding me.
I immediately started searching for where they were playing next and where I could get a ticket.
The next game was on June 19 in Boston. I could do that date. I could do that time.
Rather naively (I’ve never been one to go to sports games or big concerts), I searched “tickets for Scotland versus Morocco,” and the first site that came up was StubHub.
I bought a $750 ticket
I found the cheapest ticket at $750. That was really expensive for me — it’s a lot of money, and I would notice the amount being deducted from my bank account, but I really wanted to see this game.
I bought it. I got my email confirmation from StubHub. I was going to see Scotland in the World Cup.
In preparation for the game, I ordered a tartan skirt (with pockets for my phone). I was ready and raring to go.
And then on Monday, I got that dreadful, disappointing email that the ticket wasn’t available.
I was given the option to choose another ticket, but there are none left
In the email, I was instructed to click a link that would take me to a website to pick another comparable ticket; however, when I got to this website, I could only click the refund option.
Unbeknownst to me, StubHub is a marketplace — they don’t own the tickets; they simply allow people to sell them on their website. What I’m guessing happened is that someone pledged to sell that ticket I bought, but then, when Scotland won their first game, removed the ticket from StubHub (incurring a fine) so that they could resell it for more or use it themselves.
I opened a chat with customer service and calmly pleaded my case with the representative. Eventually, I was told to “hold tight” until one hour before the game, and that tickets might be released then. That, of course, isn’t going to work. I have to buy a special train ticket to get to the game, and to buy that train ticket, I need a ticket to the game. It would all take much longer than just one hour to get from my house to the game.
Refusing to back down, I have not yet accepted a refund, hopeful I will be given a ticket, the ticket I already paid for. I was looking forward to this game — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.
Still, I’ll be watching either way. Go Scotland!
Editor’s note: When reached out for comment, StubHub said, “We understand that attending the World Cup represents a significant investment in time and money, and we take our responsibility to every fan who books through our platform seriously.
Many of the issues fans are facing trace back to the event organizer’s technology infrastructure, newly announced transfer restrictions, and a new app that was launched just a month ago ahead of such a major event.
Regardless of the cause, when sellers don’t deliver tickets on time, StubHub investigates and takes swift action in line with our terms & conditions, including permanent bans and financial penalties. Every order on StubHub is backed by our FanProtect Guarantee, which provides alternative tickets or a full refund.”
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