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Consumer and fan organizations accuse FIFA of abusing its dominant position and lack of transparency in ticket sales
The European consumer organization Euroconsumers, together with Football Supporters Europe, have filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of abusing its monopoly in the sale of World Cup tickets.
According to the document obtained by Politico, the complaint alleges violations of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits abuse of a dominant market position.
“FIFA has a complete monopoly on the sale of World Cup tickets,” said Romane Armangau, a spokeswoman for Euroconsumers, adding, “this power is being used to set prices that would not exist in a competitive market, while information for buyers is limited and decisions are driven by urgency.”
The organizations highlight several practices they consider abusive, including a lack of transparency about ticket categories and stadium seats, a variable pricing system that increases the cost over time, and the actual shortage of tickets advertised at a starting price of $60.
"When you buy a ticket, you don't actually know exactly what you're buying," said Armangau, adding that attending the 2026 World Cup has become financially unaffordable for most fans, as prices for the final start at over $4,000.
According to the complaint, fans also face additional costs, such as resale fees of around 15 percent. FIFA is also accused of using "dark models", design and marketing techniques that create an artificial sense of urgency to encourage purchases.
The complaint comes as pressure on FIFA in Brussels is mounting. In an interview with Politico earlier this month, European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef warned of security risks for fans traveling to the 2026 World Cup, citing concerns related to the war in Iran. He stressed that FIFA has yet to provide new guarantees for fan safety.
Micallef also criticized FIFA's partnership with US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace," which is seen in Europe as an attempt to bypass the United Nations.
The complaint also relies on a December 2023 court ruling on the Super League, which established that FIFA and UEFA can be subject to EU competition law when they organize and market activities of an economic nature. According to the plaintiffs, this logic also applies to the sale of World Cup tickets.
Euroconsumers and its partners are calling on the European Commission to intervene, including by imposing price caps and increasing transparency in the sales process.
“We are asking the Commission to act immediately with interim measures,” said Armangau, adding that “once the matches take place, the damage to fans cannot be undone.”
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