April 9 – Supporters buying tickets for the World Cup have accused FIFA of “misleading” them with stadiums maps that misrepresent the location of seats.
FIFA has tickets across four ticket categories, each tied to a range of sections in every stadium, according to colour-coded maps in the ticketing portal. At major international matches, category 1 tickets are for seats at the long sides of pitch, but The Athletic reports that fans complained they were assigned seats behind the goal and the corners. It adds that some category 1 tickets holders were placed in sections that previously were colour-coded as category 2.
In a response to the allegations, FIFA argued that the category maps were “indicative” and designed “to help fans understand where their seats could be located within a stadium. These maps were designed to provide guidance rather than the exact seat layout and reflect the general extent of each ticket category within the stadium.”
FIFA, The Athletic writes, changed the seating maps of World Cup venues in the months during the different ticketing sales phase. The world body explained: “These maps reflect the final reality of category zoning, without overlaying earlier planning assumptions related to supporter grouping that were no longer applicable once inventory was released more broadly.”
The latest ticketing controversy follows a series of policies deployed by FIFA to monetise the North American market, prompting outrage from fans and concern from stakeholders. FIFA is applying dynamic ticket pricing amid claims of pricing average fans out of the market by setting exorbitant prices, making this the most inaccessible and expensive World Cup in history. Tickets for the final can cost up to $11,000.
On its resale platform, FIFA charges both buyers and sellers 15%, with the governing body also wanting to capitalise on car parking tickets, demanding on average $175 and up to $780.
Euroconsumers and Football Supporters Europe have filed a complaint at the European Commission, alleging that “the football body has abused its monopoly position to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes on European fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.”
Contact the writer of this story Samindra Kunti at [email protected]