Ammon News - European soccer 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 organization 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.

Reuters