The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has lodged a formal complaint against FIFA, accusing it of charging “excessive ticket prices” for this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a submission to the European Commission, the FSA stated that FIFA had “abused its monopoly position” in setting ticket costs for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The complaint, filed alongside Euroconsumers, claims fans are being forced to accept “opaque and unfair purchasing conditions” due to a lack of competition in ticket sales.
FIFA introduced a limited batch of $60 tickets in December following backlash over pricing. However, the FSA argues the move did little to ease concerns, describing the cheaper tickets as too scarce to make a meaningful difference.
It also called on FIFA to scrap dynamic pricing, where costs fluctuate based on demand, and instead freeze prices ahead of the next ticket release in April. The group is pushing for clearer information for buyers, including at least 48 hours’ notice on ticket availability and seating categories.
In its statement, the FSA said: “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.”
Six alleged breaches were identified, including claims of “bait advertising” by promoting lower-priced tickets that are not widely accessible.
Only around 400 £45 tickets have been released for England and Scotland group matches.
FSA director Ronan Evain said frustration among supporters had reached a tipping point.
“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,” Evain said.
FIFA says nearly seven million tickets have been made available for the tournament.
But the cost of following a team through all rounds has soared. Attending eight matches could cost about £5,225 at the lowest tier, rising to £12,350 for premium seats. By comparison, similar access at the 2022 tournament ranged from £1,466 to £3,914, albeit for seven matches.
At the time of writing, FIFA had yet to respond publicly to the complaint.
