Members of Congress, responding to “fan ire over the price of tickets to upcoming World Cup matches, are pressing FIFA for an explanation,” according to T.J. Quinn of ESPN.com. Reps. Nellie Pou (D-N.J.) and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday “asking him to explain what they termed FIFA’s ‘opaque’ use of dynamic pricing and the fury it has caused.” The letter said, “We are deeply concerned by reports that FIFA is employing opaque pricing, shifting rules, and potentially deceptive practices that are making it difficult for fans to access seats. We write seeking more information about these ticketing practices, including how FIFA is ensuring that the World Cup is affordable for all fans and responding to fans who feel misled.” Quinn notes tickets for most games in the 16 North American host cities have “soared well into four figures, with individual seats for some key games exceeding $10,000.” FIFA has “defended the ticket system, saying prices are a matter of market forces and that the organization doesn’t set the prices, demand does.” But Pou and Pallone said that the issue “isn’t just pricing,” it is “transparency -- particularly regarding fluctuations in ticket pricing and availability.” They wrote FIFA “appears to be restricting ticket supply to shape demand,” with tickets “reportedly being held back for matches, creating the appearance of limited availability even when large numbers remain unsold” (ESPN.com, 5/7).
U.S. Reps. press FIFA for transparency around World Cup ticket pricing
