FIFA has been officially accused by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) of charging “excessive ticket prices” for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
FIFA “abused its monopoly position” in determining ticket prices for the event, which begins on June 11 in the US, Canada, and Mexico, according to a submission made by the FSA to the European Commission.
The case, which was filed alongside Euroconsumers, alleges that a lack of competition in ticket sales is forcing fans to accept “opaque and unfair purchasing conditions.”
In response to criticism of the price, FIFA released a small number of $60 tickets in December. The FSA contends that the action did little to allay worries, characterizing the less expensive tickets as being too few to have a significant impact.
Additionally, it demanded that FIFA lock rates in advance of the next ticket release in April rather than using dynamic pricing, in which prices change in response to demand. The group is advocating for more precise information for purchasers, such as a minimum of 48 hours’ notice regarding the availability of tickets and seating options.
“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 FSA said in a statement.
Six alleged violations were found, including allegations of “bait advertising” through the promotion of less expensive tickets that are not readily available.
For the England and Scotland group matches, just about 400 £45 tickets have been made available.
Ronan Evain, director of the FSA, stated that supporters’ annoyance had reached a breaking point.
“FIFA uses their unverified sales numbers to justify their unfair ticket policies, but in reality, they leave devoted fans with no choice but to pay or lose out,” Evain stated.
According to FIFA, around seven million tickets have been sold for the competition.
However, the price of tracking a team through every round has skyrocketed. At the lowest tier, eight matches may cost around £5,225, while luxury seats might cost up to £12,350. In contrast, comparable admission for seven matches in the 2022 tournament varied from £1,466 to £3,914.
FIFA had not yet addressed the allegation in public as of the time of writing.
