Groups File EU Complaint on FIFA's 2026 World Cup Ticket Prices

Football Supporters Europe and consumer rights group Euroconsumers filed a formal complaint with the European Commission on Tuesday, accusing FIFA of abusing its monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup to impose excessive prices and unfair purchasing conditions on European fans.

The complaint targets FIFA's handling of tickets for the expanded tournament, set for June 11 to July 19 and co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It features 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 venues, with nearly seven million tickets available. Buyers are limited to four tickets per match and 40 overall. The groups allege that FIFA's practices, including dynamic pricing introduced for the first time at a World Cup, have driven costs far beyond initial projections and comparable events.

Ticket prices for high-demand games have drawn widespread criticism since general sales began in December. The cheapest tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey start at $4,185, more than seven times the $600 price for the cheapest seat at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. By comparison, the lowest price for the UEFA Euro 2024 final was about €95 to €100. FIFA's original bid...