US lawmakers seek transparency in FIFA WC ticket pricing

Members of Congress, responding to fan outrage over ticket prices for upcoming World Cup matches, are pressing FIFA for an explanation.

Representatives Nellie Pau and Frank Pallone Jr., both Democrats from New Jersey, sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday asking him to explain what they see as FIFA’s “opaque” use of dynamic pricing and the furore it has caused. The World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ

“We are deeply concerned by reports that FIFA is engaging in opaque pricing, rule changes, and potentially deceptive practices that make it difficult for fans to access seats,” the letter said. “We are writing to ask for more information about these ticketing practices, including how FIFA is ensuring the World Cup is affordable for all fans, and to respond to those who feel confused.”

Ticket prices for most of the games in the 16 North American host cities soared into the four digits, with individual seats exceeding $10,000 for some key games.

Asked about tickets costing $1,000 or more, President Donald Trump, a long-time Infantino charm offensive and a certain “FIFA Peace Prize” recipient, told the New York Post that he was not aware of such prices.

“To be honest with you, I’m not going to pay that either,” Trump said.

FIFA has defended the ticket system, saying prices are a matter of market forces and that the organization does not set prices, but demand.

“We have to look at the market,” Infantino said at a conference earlier this week. “We’re in a market where entertainment is the most advanced in the world, so we have to apply market rates.”

Dynamic pricing, the recent loss of music concert attendees, has never been used for a major sporting event. The theory behind dynamic pricing is that prices reflect market demand and can go down if demand is low.

“In the United States, ticket resale is also allowed, so if you sell tickets at a very low price, those tickets will be resold at a much higher price,” Infantino said. “Even though some people are saying that our tickets are overpriced, they still end up on the resale market at a higher price, more than double our price.”

But the problem isn’t just pricing, Pau and Pallone say, it’s transparency — especially regarding fluctuations in ticket prices and availability. FIFA “appears to be limiting ticket supply in line with demand. Tickets are reportedly being held back for matches, creating the appearance of limited availability even when large numbers remain unsold,” Pau and Pallone wrote.

A $150 charge for a roundtrip train ticket from New York’s Penn Station to East Rutherford also sparked public protests. On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Mickey Sherrill announced measures to lower prices.

“To show how important it is for New Jersey to showcase the state to the world,” said Chris Colluri, president and CEO of NJ Transit, Sherrill found private sponsors and other sources to donate funds and reduce ticket costs. “I am pleased that we have been able to reduce prices by at least 30% and bring the price down to $105 per ticket,” Kolluri said in a statement.

ESPN’s Anthony Olivieri contributed to this report.