European consumer groups are accusing FIFA of abusing its monopoly power.
European consumer organization Euroconsumers and Football Supporters Europe have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against FIFA over high World Cup ticket prices. The complaint alleges that FIFA is abusing its monopoly position to impose excessive prices and unfair conditions on fans, according to a press release.
“FIFA has a complete monopoly over ticket sales for the World Cup,” said Romane Armangau, a spokesperson for Euroconsumers. “They are using that power to charge prices that would not exist in a normal competitive market, while hiding information from buyers and manipulating them into rushed decisions.”
A Commission spokesperson confirmed that the complaint has been received and will be reviewed following standard procedures.
The Commission will then decide whether to launch a formal investigation. If the review finds a violation of competition law, the Commission can require the parties involved – in this case, FIFA – to cease the violation and issue specific directives. There is no set timeframe for reviewing complaints.
FIFA stated in response to a request for comment that it had not yet received the complaint and therefore could not comment. However, the organization emphasized that it reinvests revenue “to promote the growth of football – men’s, women’s, and youth – in its 211 member associations worldwide.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made similar statements in the past.
The significantly increased prices for tickets compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar have drawn heavy criticism from fan organizations. Armangau lamented that attending the 2026 World Cup has become financially out of reach for most fans, citing final tickets starting at over $4,000.
Following the ongoing criticism, FIFA introduced a special contingent of tickets for $60 in mid-December 2025. However, the cheaper prices apply to only a limited number of tickets.
Despite the widespread criticism of the prices, interest in World Cup tickets remains high. FIFA reported that the most recent sales phase saw more than half a billion ticket requests. (dpa)
