Soccer enthusiasts have filed a complaint with the European Commission against FIFA concerning World Cup ticket prices.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) announced on Tuesday its collaboration with Euroconsumers, a consumer group, to accuse FIFA of exploiting its dominant position to enforce exorbitant pricing.
In December, FSE criticized FIFA for a “monumental betrayal” when tickets were made available to the public with prices ranging from $140 for the cheapest group games to $8,680 for the final. The lowest-priced tickets for the final were $4,185. Prices are subject to change as FIFA is utilizing dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In a joint statement, FSE and Euroconsumers asserted, “FIFA holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market.”
Following fans’ dissatisfaction in December, FIFA reduced certain ticket prices to $60 for all rounds up to the final, allowing teams to distribute them to their most dedicated fans. Beyond high prices, FSE also accused FIFA of employing pressure selling tactics and criticized the lack of transparency in the process.
They have requested that prices be fixed during the next sales period in April and that dynamic pricing be eliminated when selling to European fans.
Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers, remarked, “Dynamic pricing turns fans’ loyalty into a bidding war, inflates costs without added value, and locks out many supporters.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated in January that the demand for tickets was akin to “1,000 years of World Cups at once”. He noted that all 104 World Cup matches would be sold out, suggesting that “tickets will probably be resold at even higher prices.”
FSE also criticized FIFA’s official resale platform, where tickets have been listed far above their face value, with the governing body taking a 30% commission from any sale.
Ronan Evain, executive director for FSE, stated, “FIFA point to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, while the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice — pay up or lose out.”
FIFA informed the Associated Press that it had not yet formally received the complaint. The organization also stated that as a not-for-profit entity, revenue from the World Cup is reinvested to develop soccer.
