Vancouver Whitecaps to donate $475K to charities in Messi no-show lawsuit; ticket buyers won’t get refunds for 2024 Inter Miami game.
Whitecaps Reach Settlement Over Messi No-Show
Vancouver soccer fans who eagerly bought tickets to see Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets in 2024 won’t be getting refunds. Instead, the Vancouver Whitecaps have proposed a settlement that sends $475,000 minus legal fees to three local sports charities.
The news comes after a class-action lawsuit filed by Ho Chun, a Burnaby resident who paid $404 for two tickets to watch Inter Miami CF face the Whitecaps. The advertised star trio never showed up, a change only announced days before the match, prompting Chun to call it a “classic bait-and-switch.”
Fans Miss Out, Charities Benefit
Under the proposed deal, the Whitecaps will not reimburse ticket holders. Instead, the money will go to KidSport B.C., Canada SCORES, and BGC South Coast B.C., while lawyers could take up to one-third in fees.
The settlement also requires the Whitecaps to revise ticketing terms to clearly state that player rosters are subject to change. Ticketmaster notices and the team’s own website will now prominently reflect these updated terms.
Lawsuit Called Out “Reckless” Promotions
Chun’s lawsuit sought full refunds for unused tickets and partial refunds for tickets used, arguing the Whitecaps and MLS acted recklessly by failing to confirm the players’ participation. Promotional material online, print, and billboard had explicitly featured Messi, Suarez, and Busquets.
Fans traveled from near and far, including Andy Lam from Hong Kong, only to be disappointed when the stars didn’t appear.
Whitecaps Tried to Mitigate Fan Frustration
When it became clear Messi and company might miss the Vancouver game, Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster explained the team had no control over the opposing roster. To ease frustration, the club offered 50% off food and drinks, free meals for attendees under 18, and complimentary tickets to another 2024 match for fans who showed up.
Court Approval Pending
A B.C. Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026, to review the settlement. If approved, the case will end with charities benefiting but ticket buyers left without compensation a bittersweet conclusion for Vancouver’s soccer fans.
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