Overview
- FIFA added “Front Category 1” and “Front Category 2” seats this week with steep markups in the first rows of its top price bands, with prices for some Canada matches rising into the thousands of dollars, according to the Globe and Mail.
- The new tiers arrived as updated stadium maps expanded top categories into less desirable areas, and many buyers who paid for Category 1 reported being placed in corners or behind the goal, as documented by GOAL citing The Athletic.
- FIFA says the earlier color maps were only guidance, that its terms allow adjustments within a category, and that the current sales phase lets buyers pick exact seats with maps now updated to show final zoning.
- Reports point to prime sideline seats being held for hospitality and sponsors, with official hospitality packages priced from roughly $2,000 to more than $70,000, which has led fans to question whether the best views were ever sold at standard rates.
- European fan groups have lodged a complaint with the European Commission and U.S. politicians have criticized prices, while FIFA has not disclosed remaining inventory despite public claims of sellouts, leaving many buyers unsure what is still available.