A formal complaint has been lodged against FIFA over what has been described as excessively high ticket prices for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), along with Euroconsumers, has approached the European Commission, alleging that FIFA has taken advantage of its dominant position in controlling ticket sales. According to the complaint, fans are being subjected to high prices and unclear purchasing conditions.
The issue centres around FIFA’s pricing model, including the use of dynamic pricing, where ticket costs fluctuate based on demand. The FSA has urged FIFA to drop this system and instead fix prices for the next ticket release expected in April. It has also called for greater clarity for fans, including advance notice on ticket availability and clearer information about seating categories.
FIFA had earlier introduced a limited number of lower-priced tickets at around $60 following criticism, but supporters’ groups argue that these are too few to make a real difference. They claim such tickets are not genuinely accessible to most fans.
FSA representatives said they were left with no choice but to escalate the matter after what they described as a lack of meaningful engagement from FIFA. They argue that fans are effectively being forced to either accept the high prices or miss out on attending the tournament.
The complaint also raises concerns about transparency and fairness in the ticketing process, accusing FIFA of practices that would not be acceptable in a more competitive market.
The 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to be the biggest edition yet, with nearly seven million tickets available. However, attending multiple matches could prove costly. Estimates suggest that watching games across all stages of the tournament could cost several thousand pounds even at the lowest price tier — significantly higher than previous editions.
FIFA has yet to respond publicly to the complaint.
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