Supporter groups have filed a complaint against FIFA with the European Commission, accusing football’s governing body of inflating ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup.
The complaint was submitted by Football Supporters Europe and Euroconsumers, who alleged that FIFA abused its monopoly over ticket sales by imposing “excessive prices” and unfair purchasing conditions on fans.
According to the groups, the cheapest tickets for the final now start at $4,185, more than seven times higher than the lowest-priced ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. They also noted that tickets for the UEFA Euro 2024 final were as low as €95.
The 2026 tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup ever. While FIFA says nearly seven million tickets are available, prices for high-demand matches have surged significantly.
FSE also criticised FIFA’s use of “dynamic pricing,” which allows ticket costs to fluctuate based on demand. The group argued that the system lacks transparency and has no cap, with some tickets increasing by up to 25 per cent between sales phases.
In extreme cases, resale tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium have been listed as high as $143,750—over 40 times their original face value.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing model, stating that demand, particularly in the United States, drives price increases.
Although FIFA introduced a limited number of cheaper tickets starting at $60, critics say they were scarce and largely unavailable to the general public.
The case now puts pressure on regulators to examine FIFA’s ticketing system, especially as concerns grow over accessibility and fairness for fans worldwide.
