FIFA - World Cup 2026 ticket practices
Euroconsumers and Football Supporters Europe (FSE) have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against FIFA, alleging that the football body has abused its monopoly position to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes on European fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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. For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; fair and transparent access to tickets is essential.
What this means in practice for fans?
Ticket prices have spiraled out of control, with final tickets now starting at $4,185—more than seven times higher than those for the 2022 World Cup. What was advertised as accessible pricing turned out to be misleading, as the widely promoted $60 tickets were nearly impossible for most fans to secure. At the same time, dynamic pricing has been applied without clear limits, causing costs to surge between sales phases with little to no transparency.
Adding to the frustration, many fans were often buying without knowing their exact seat or even the specific match they will attend, and in many cases facing limited or no refund options. The process is further intensified by pressure tactics that create a sense of artificial urgency, pushing supporters into rushed decisions.
On top of all this, the resale system leaves fans paying twice. While other platforms are discouraged as “unsafe,” buyers are funneled into FIFA’s own marketplace, where a 15% fee is charged to both buyers and sellers, driving costs even higher.
FIFA must stop these practices and ensure all fans can access tickets under fair and transparent conditions.
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