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Congress accuses FIFA of misleading… and prices go up 300%
FIFA tripled the prices of its best available tickets for the World Cup finals, offering $32,970 on Thursday for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The international federation listed these seats as “category 1 front” on its sales website, on a day when members of the US Congress raised questions about the pricing structure of World Cup tickets and demanded that FIFA provide more transparency about the prices on offer.
Unprecedented price jump
The previous highest price for a Category 1 ticket for the final was $10,990. However, this ticket became available on Thursday evening only under the first class “wheelchair and accessibility” category.
Tickets for the July 14 semifinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington are listed at $11,130, $4,330, $3,710 and $2,705.
Meanwhile, seats for the other semifinals, which will take place the following day at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, were priced at $10,635, $3,545 and $2,725.
US National Team Game Prices
Tickets for the USA’s June 12 home game against Paraguay at Sowai Stadium in Inglewood are also on sale for $2,735, $1,940 and $1,120.
Meanwhile, tickets for the USA team’s game against Australia on June 19 at Lumen Field reached $2,715.
Tickets for Team USA’s group stage final against Turkey on June 25 in Inglewood ranged from $2,970, $1,345, $990 and $840.
Official parliamentary protest action
New Jersey Democrats Nellie Poe and Frank Palo Jr. sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday asking him to explain what they described as the “mysterious use” of dynamic pricing and the public outrage it has caused.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that FIFA is using ambiguous pricing, changing rules and potentially misleading practices that make it difficult for fans to get seats,” the letter said. “We are writing to request more information about this ticketing practice, including how FIFA ensures the World Cup is accessible to all fans and how it deals with fans who feel they have been misled.”
Infantino defends prices
In turn, Infantino defended the ticket prices.
“We have to look at the market,” he said Tuesday at the Milken Institute’s global conference in Beverly Hills, California. “We are in a market where the entertainment industry is the most developed in the world, so we have to use market prices. Resale tickets are also allowed in the US, so if you sell tickets at a very low price, they will be resold at a much higher price.
He added: “In the United States, you can’t attend a college game, let alone a major professional game, for less than $300.”
Compare with US prices
While ticket prices for the Super Bowl and the college football playoffs can be compared to some World Cup games, tickets to many college and professional sporting events in the US, including the current NBA playoffs, are usually available for less than $300.
Crazy resale market
Tickets for the final were on sale Thursday for prices ranging from $11,499,998.85 to $8,970 on FIFA’s ticket resale and exchange platform. The highest price was for a ticket just four rows from the top of the upper stand, in section 307, row 22, seat 12.
FIFA does not control the asking prices on its resale platform, but receives a 15% commission from the buyer for each ticket, in addition to another 15% for resale from the seller.
Last month, someone listed tickets to the finals for $2,299,998.85.
Infantino’s ironic promise
“If someone is offering tickets for the final on the secondary market or on the resale market for $2 million, that does not mean, firstly, that the price of the tickets is $2 million, and secondly, it does not mean that anyone will buy those tickets. In fact, if someone buys a ticket to the finals for $2 million, I’ll personally bring them a hot dog and a great Cocaine experience,” he said.
