Football fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and consumer group Euroconsumers have filed a complaint with the European Commission, saying FIFA is charging far too much for 2026 World Cup tickets and making it hard for fans to buy them fairly.
FSE says FIFA controls all ticket sales and forces fans to follow rules that leave them with few options. Final match tickets start at $4,185, more than seven times what tickets cost for the 2022 final. By comparison, the cheapest tickets for the UEFA EURO 2024 final were about $100. FIFA had originally promised average prices around $1,408, much lower than what fans are being asked to pay.
The complaint also points to FIFA’s resale platform, where tickets often sell for much more than their face value and FIFA takes a 30% cut. “FIFA points to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, while the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice – pay up or lose out,” said Ronan Evain, FSE Executive Director.
The groups want the European Commission to stop FIFA from using dynamic pricing in Europe and freeze ticket prices at December 2025 levels. Dynamic pricing, common in North American sports, makes ticket costs change based on demand, which clashes with EU consumer rules.
The legal case refers to EU law that bans companies with too much control from abusing their position. Fans argue that FIFA’s monopoly and its high-fee resale system are exactly that.
Other reasons tickets are so expensive include the World Cup expanding to 48 teams, which means more matches, FIFA covering more costs across three host countries, and travel expenses for European fans. By contrast, EURO 2024 in Germany kept tickets cheap, with over 270,000 under $35.
The European Commission could force FIFA to set up a two-tier pricing system so European fans aren’t hit by the same high costs as North American buyers.
The tournament starts on 11 June.
