Q&A: Better Pricing Transparency Urgent for Accessible Tickets to World Cup

Accessibility has become an increasingly prescient topic at major sporting events, and this summer’s FIFA World Cup is no different.

With growing concern around World Cup ticket pricing, reports have emerged that fans with disabilities may be paying 38 times more for accessible seats than in 2022, with some easy access tickets starting at $3,100.

That is already on top of inflated ticket prices for matches, after FIFA officially started employing dynamic pricing for the first time for World Cup ticket sales and introduced its own official FIFA Resale Marketplace (which has no price caps and takes a 15 percent fee from both the buyer ansd seller on every transaction), as well as using third-party platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek to manage and sell excess inventory.

According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the increased prices have been necessary to fall in line with other entertainment markets (including sports) across the United States, which also utilize methods such as dynamic pricing and long advance windows to maximize revenues. Infantino also points to the release of tickets costing just $60 (although these only equate to around two percent of the inventory of each match and the vast majority of tickets are significantly more expensive) and claims that there has been “unprecedented demand,” to suggest that FIFA’s policy is paying off.

However, the escalating ticket prices for matches, as well as for public transportation costs in some cities (including the NJ Transit in New Jersey and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Massachusetts), have left many fans feeling angry and priced out of attending the tournament, even if they will not be impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump‘s imposed travel bans or visa freezes. FIFA has also been subpoenaed by the Attorneys General of New York and New Jersey as part of an investigation into its ticketing practices for the World Cup.

SportsTravel spoke to Peter Savovsky, chief operating officer at secondary ticket marketplace Ticombo, to hear about how accessibility should be prioritized, and not priced at a premium for fans who rely on it:

ST: What is Ticombo?

PS: Ticombo is a secondary marketplace for tickets for live events, concerts, sports and competitions that was established in 2016 and has been active since 2018. We launched the product just in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, so we have focused on improving some of the processes since then, including setting up customer support teams and building account management teams. We also faced Covid, which was not so good, but it turned out pretty well for us because of our terms and conditions and how we established our procedures around live events.

We have been growing our team since the 2021 European Championships, and we are now just a little below 100 people across our tech, customer support, marketing and product teams. Our Founder and CEO (Atle Barlaup) has more than 30 years of experience in the ticketing industry, and he decided to open this marketplace 10 years ago. It has been a good journey so far as my first experience in this industry.

ST: What are some of the prices that you’re observing for fans with disabilities and impairments at this FIFA World Cup, compared to previous editions or other events? Why does this make transparent pricing even more important?

PS: The main difference that we can see for accessible tickets is that companion tickets are being charged at a full price for the first time at a major competition, and this significantly increases the costs for fans with disabilities. They are already facing additional expenses with specialized transport, accessible parking and accommodation adjustments, and they need personal assistance.

Speaking about accessible parking, we are also seeing that tickets for parking buses at the final are being reset, as they are also being sold as separate tickets. This is where transparency becomes especially important because the fans with disabilities need to be aware and have full clarity of the costs included for them to attend the events. This accessibility should never become a situation where people feel excluded and discriminated against because of pricing or the availability of tickets, especially if there is a lack of transparency around the costs of packages.

ST: What are some of the factors that are leading to these price changes, whether it is on the primary market or not? 

PS: We saw that there was the introduction of dynamic pricing on the primary market, which lacks transparency and is not entirely known for the end-user quality. We know that the price for the World Cup is excessively strong, and accessible tickets are limited because of the infrastructure of the stadiums.

Also, pricing movements are not always well interpreted. This is one concern we hear consistently from many fans because they lack the visibility of how prices are determined, what inventory is available, if there are going to be any additional tickets released by the organizers or not, etc.

That is why I believe that greater transparency not only benefits those with accessible tickets but also consumers across the entire booking system. It is important to recognize that secondary ticket marketplaces can also sometimes offer more competitive pricing than official channels, depending on the supply and demand at a given moment, and fans can only benefit most when they can compare prices openly.

ST: What are the risks to fans who do require accessible seating or companion tickets in the stadiums, and also if they are traveling via public transportation?

PS: The main risk is that the fan journey doesn’t end with just purchasing a ticket. As we have seen at previous World Cups, public transportation was included with the match tickets, but the prices are actually now significantly higher than they are in the off-season. For supporters requiring assistance, this might not be practical or safe. Across the entire journey, we have to look not just inside the stadium, but also at public transportation, venue access, seating arrangements and accommodation. All of the event logistics have to be considered when they are making these plans.

ST: Have you been able to raise these issues directly with FIFA, resale platforms or lawmakers? If not, what would be your message right now to them?

PS: We have been consistently advocating for stronger consumer protections and greater transparency across ticketing and live events. We have filed formal complaints with the European Commission against UEFA and the IOC over abusive fan conditions, although we haven’t actually raised these to date with FIFA.

(Two years ago, Ticombo took legal action against the Belgian State and UEFA, alleging practices contrary to European Law, as well as abuse of a dominant position directly harming consumers’ interests, ahead of UEFA Euro 2024. In 2025, the company also filed an antitrust complaint against the International Olympic Committee, alleging that the IOC maintained an unlawful monopoly over Olympic ticket resale markets)

Our message is straightforward: fans should have clear visibility over pricing and availability. This means what fees are included in the purchase and the purchasing conditions in real time when they are at the checkout page. This is where transparency creates a better environment for everyone, i.e. organizers, platforms, and, most importantly, the fans.

For accessibility categories, the clarity around total cost is essential so they can plan everything safely.

ST: Did you hear anything back from UEFA and the IOC? What were their responses to your concerns?

PS: Our case has been escalated from the Belgian courts to the CJEU (European Court of Justice) at the moment, so a couple of things have already passed.

ST: Can this World Cup still be a success for fans requiring accessible seating? Are you feeling optimistic?

PS: Yes, we can say so. The market players need to make sure that pricing information is accurate, while public transportation and support must be available during the purchasing process and the event itself.

For the World Cup to be a success on top of already high demand, it should bring people together from around the world and remain accessible to everyday supporters, not just to the wealthiest people. The transparency and competition will help fans make more informed decisions, and as we have seen at other major events, we expect to have some affordable tickets available. We experienced that during the Olympic Games, and we will also be providing comparison across platforms so that fans can make informed decisions. The success should not only be measured by attendance figures, but also by whether the fans feel welcomed and if they can participate safely and comfortably.

Transparency is not only about pricing but also about confidence, safety and dignity throughout the entire experience.