FIFA makes more World Cup tickets available, but soccer fans criticize lack of transparency

FIFA's release of a new tranche of World Cup tickets has left some fans fuming about a perceived lack of transparency in how seats are being sold, given that premium seating options now on offer were not available previously.

"I think they have overplayed their hand," said Adam Zakhar, a soccer fan from California who bought World Cup tickets at an earlier point and believes he would have a shot at "way better seats" if he'd waited and been privy to what FIFA is offering now.

The World Cup is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the first games taking place on June 11 and the final being held on July 19. Thirteen games will be held in Canada — six in Toronto and seven in Vancouver.

FIFA began selling tickets to the World Cup games last fall, with several tiers of options — the highest price seats being called "Category 1" and located closest to the action. Categories 2, 3 and 4 are further from the pitch.

At 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, fresh tickets for categories 1, 2 and 3 went on sale on a first-come, first-served basis for all of the tournament's 104 matches.

"At this point, it feels like they're just making [ticket-buying] stages up as we go along," said Aizaz Sheikh, a Toronto soccer fan who has obtained tickets for two World Cup games taking place in the city — Canada versus Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Senegal versus Iraq.

Tickets were also offered Wednesday for the recently added "front category" of pricing — something that irked some fans who bought earlier and thus did not have a chance at these premium seats.

Zakhar, for instance, has ended with seats "stuck in a corner" and resents being denied a chance to select something better from the latest release of seats.

He's now started a