European fans file complaint over World Cup ticket prices

European football fans have lodged a formal complaint over the high cost of tickets for this summer's FIFA World Cup in North America.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and the consumer rights organisation Euroconsumers filed an 18-page complaint on Tuesday with the European Commission in Brussels.

"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," FSE and Euroconsumers said in a joint statement.

They argue that ticket prices are significantly higher than at any previous World Cup. Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 start at $4,185 -- seven times the cost of the cheapest ticket at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

The complaint accuses FIFA of engaging in "bait advertising," "uncontrolled" dynamic pricing, "pressure-selling tactics" and a lack of transparency about seat locations and refund policies.

"Dynamic pricing turns fans' loyalty into a bidding war, inflates costs without added value and locks out many supporters," said Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers, per ESPN.

The allegation of bait advertising, which is illegal under European Union consumer laws, is a reference to FIFA's claim in October that group-stage ticket prices started at $60. However, after fans' groups across Europe complained about the lack of availability at that price, FIFA had to release more tickets at that price in December.

"Football is a universal passion but FIFA is treating it like a private luxury by exploiting its absolute monopoly over World Cup ticketing," said Marco Scialdone, head of litigation at Euroconsumers, per The Athletic.

"We are calling on the European Commission to intervene immediately with interim measures to halt these exploitative practices before the 2026 tournament begins."

The World Cup opens on June 11, with matches taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.