Hamburg, March 24 (NationPress) The organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE), in conjunction with Euroconsumers, has lodged an official complaint with the European Commission against the football authority, FIFA, regarding exorbitant ticket prices for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, scheduled to kick off on June 11.

FSE asserts that FIFA has exploited its monopolistic control to set ticket prices that are far beyond the means of ordinary fans.

In response to widespread backlash over its pricing strategy, FIFA announced a limited release of affordable tickets priced at $60 for all 104 matches back in December. However, FSE claims this move was merely an advertising ploy, as the so-called economy tickets quickly sold out before the general sales period.

FSE has urged FIFA to eliminate dynamic pricing and maintain fixed prices for tickets being released in April.

Furthermore, they have called for enhanced transparency for fans during the ticket purchasing process, requesting at least 48-hour advance notice for ticket availability in each category and information regarding seat locations. FSE insists that FIFA must honor consumers' rights in both primary and secondary ticket markets.

“FIFA wields a monopoly over World Cup ticket sales and has leveraged that power to impose conditions on fans that would be unacceptable in a competitive environment. For many, attending this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; fair and transparent ticket access is crucial,” FSE stated.

The organization highlighted that ticket prices for the World Cup final are significantly higher compared to the 2022 final held in Qatar.

“The least expensive tickets for the final are currently priced at $4,185, which is over seven times more than the cheapest final ticket from the 2022 World Cup,” FSE remarked. “FIFA's own bid documentation indicated an average ticket price of $1,408, a figure that has been vastly exceeded,” they added.

“Football is a global passion, yet FIFA is treating it as a private luxury, exploiting its complete control over World Cup ticketing. By employing opaque pricing strategies, manipulative tactics to pressure buyers, and imposing steep resale fees, FIFA is unfairly burdening millions of European fans,” said Marco Scialdone, the Head of Litigation at Euroconsumers, in a statement.

“We urge the European Commission to take immediate action with temporary measures to stop these predatory practices prior to the commencement of the 2026 tournament,” he added.

FIFA has made nearly seven million tickets available for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, with ticket prices exceeding acceptable limits for many highly sought-after games.