July 1 – FIFA is demanding $8,975 for front-row seats for the round of 32 fixture between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami on Friday.

Astronomical ticket prices have been a feature of this tournament and FIFA’s sales effort in a bid to generate at least $3 billion in revenue from ticketing, including hospitality. For Friday’s blockbuster between Lionel Messi and Shamrock Rovers’ centreback Pico Lopes, the world federation wants supporters to spend almost $9,000 for a front category 1 ticket, a category FIFA introduced to squeeze every last penny from spectators. 

That same day, a front category 1 ticket for Colombia – Ghana, another round of 32 fixture, in Kansas City, is advertised for up to $4,000 on FIFA’s official ticketing platform. At $520, Belgium – Senegal had the lowest-priced tickets for a round of 32 match. 

FIFA has always maintained that the prices are consistent with comparable market prices, even though it has never disclosed the basic starting prices and failed to clarify whether dynamic pricing has been applied in the current last-minute sales phase, with a small inventory still available on the governing body’s official ticketing platform. On the secondary markets, some prices have tumbled downwards. 

FIFA said that 4,644,549 fans had attended the first 72 group stages, a new record. During the France-Sweden round of 32 game yesterday FIFA announced the figure had passed 5 million.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and EuroConsumers have filed a complaint with the European Commission against FIFA’s World Cup ticketing prices and policies. Prosecutors in four American states – Texas, New Jersey, New York and California – have opened investigations into FIFA’s ticketing policies. 

“I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly,” said Texan attorney general Ken Paxton in a statement.

“Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition – and consumer rights – seriously.” 

Echoing other prosecutors, he said that FIFA had ‘misled’ supporters. 

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