Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers allege the governing body is abusing its monopoly power, with final ticket prices soaring seven times higher than the 2022 tournament.
LAUSANNE — A major dispute over the cost of attending the 2026 World Cup has escalated, with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) filing a formal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission on Tuesday.
The lawsuit, supported by Euroconsumers, accuses world football’s governing body of leveraging its monopoly over the tournament to impose “excessive ticket prices” alongside “opaque and unfair purchasing conditions” on European fans.
The complaint specifically targets the pricing structure for the expanded 48-team tournament, which is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
“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 FSE stated.
The group highlighted the stark disparity in pricing compared to recent major tournaments. According to the complaint, the cheapest openly available tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 start at $4,185. This is more than seven times the cost of the cheapest ticket for the 2022 final in Qatar.
In contrast, the cheapest tickets for the UEFA Euro 2024 final were available for just €95 ($100) .
The FSE noted that FIFA’s original bid documents projected an average ticket price of $1,408—a figure the organization claims has been “left far behind” by current pricing. While FIFA has made nearly seven million tickets available for the 104 matches, prices for high-demand fixtures have surged.
Supporters also pointed to a discrepancy in accessibility promises. While the initial North American bid suggested tickets would be available from as little as $21, the cheapest tickets currently on sale start at $60—for a Group J opener between Austria and Jordan. For matches involving top-tier nations, most tickets cost at least $200.
The resale market has further highlighted the pricing tensions, with some tickets for the final appearing on FIFA’s official resale site at astronomical figures. One category three seat was listed at $143,750—more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450.
FIFA has yet to issue a formal response to the legal complaint. The European Commission will now review the filing to determine whether it warrants a full investigation into FIFA’s commercial practices.
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