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Supporters file complaint against FIFA over alleged monopoly and pricing practices
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Final tickets soar beyond $4,000, far higher than previous tournaments
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Dynamic pricing system criticised for lack of transparency and limits
Football fans in Europe have filed a formal complaint against FIFA, accusing the body of imposing excessive ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The complaint, lodged with the European Commission by Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers, alleges that FIFA abused its monopoly over ticket sales by enforcing “opaque and unfair purchasing conditions” on fans.
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In a statement, the groups said: “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.”
They further argued that ticket prices have surged significantly compared to previous tournaments. According to the complaint, the cheapest available tickets for the final now start at $4,185—more than seven times the cost of the cheapest final ticket at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The groups also highlighted disparities with European competitions, noting that the cheapest tickets for the UEFA Euro 2024 final were priced at just €95.
Concerns were also raised over FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing, a system that allows ticket prices to fluctuate based on demand. Critics say the model lacks transparency and allows prices to rise without limit.
“FIFA used ‘variable pricing,’ or dynamic pricing, with no cap and no transparency on how prices are set,” the statement added. “Some tickets rose 25% between sales phases. Fans had no clear way of knowing the final price before joining the queue.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing structure, stating that demand—particularly in the United States—has driven costs upward.
“In the US in particular, there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down depending on the match in question,” Infantino said.
The 2026 tournament, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first expanded edition featuring 48 teams and a total of 104 matches, with nearly seven million tickets made available.
However, fan groups insist that the current pricing model risks excluding ordinary supporters, calling for regulatory intervention to ensure fairness and accessibility.