FIFA Hit with EU Complaint Over "Excessive" World Cup Ticket Prices

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers have lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission, alleging FIFA abused its market dominance to impose what they describe as excessive ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup.

The complaint, announced Tuesday, centers on FIFA's introduction of dynamic pricing for the first time in the tournament's history, as well as the governing body's control over the official resale platform, from which it takes a 30% commission on transactions.

"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," the organizations said in a joint statement.

Ticket prices for the 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, initially ranged from $140 for group-stage matches to $8,680 for the final when general sales opened in December. Following criticism from supporter groups, FIFA introduced a $60 price category for all rounds, including the final, with those tickets allocated to national teams for distribution to their most dedicated fans.

FSE and Euroconsumers have called for ticket prices to be frozen ahead of the next sales phase in April and for dynamic pricing to be prohibited for sales to consumers in Europe. They also criticized FIFA's resale platform for facilitating listings well above face value.

"Dynamic pricing turns fans' loyalty into a bidding war, inflates costs without added value, and locks out many supporters," said Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing model in January, citing extraordinary demand. He stated that all 104 matches would sell out and suggested secondary-market prices would likely exceed primary-market rates.

FIFA told the Associated Press it had not yet received the complaint. The organization reiterated that as a not-for-profit body, revenue generated from the World Cup is reinvested into soccer development worldwide.