World Cup tickets promised at $60, fans paid $4,185: The European Commission could take on FIFA

As the sole organiser of the event and the only authorised seller on the primary market, FIFA holds enormous power over 2026 World Cup tickets. Euroconsumers, a European consumer rights organisation, argues it is abusing that power through high prices and a lack of transparency. The cheapest available final ticket starts at $4,185 (€3,611) or more than 7 times the price of the cheapest final ticket at the 2022 World Cup.

FIFA told Euronews it had not formally received the complaint and was therefore unable to comment. A spokesperson added that the organisation is "focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing and prospective fans," and that as a not-for-profit, World Cup revenues are reinvested across its 211 member associations globally. For many fans, however, the prices tell a different story.

"It was one of my dreams to go to the US for the World Cup," said Jean-Philippe Ducart, a Belgian fan who has attended more than 200 games for his national team. "Unfortunately, this year, I won't be there. The prices are just too high.

" What ‘variable pricing’ means FIFA uses what it calls "variable pricing," which is similar to dynamic pricing, in its ticket sales. This means that the price customers pay can change during the ticket sale process depending on demand and availability. An investigation by The Athletic revealed that the price of tickets for games in Mexico and Canada increased by around 25% between sales phases.