Balanced Economy Project Warns: Monopoly Power Is Driving Football Prices Beyond Fans’ Reach

Our new paper, “The Beautiful Game's Ugly Price Tag – Why too little competition is damaging football for fans, consumers and players,” shows how FIFA’s monopoly power, dynamic pricing and investor‑driven ownership models are transforming the world’s most popular sport into an extractive industry.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching where the cheapest final ticket already costs $4,185 the paper reveals how fans are being priced out while global capital reshapes football as an elite product for the rich. From World Cup tickets to Premier League matchdays costing families £400–£500, affordability is collapsing across every level of the game.

The paper draws on legal rulings, ownership data and governance failures across Europe, and sets out a path for reform: fan co‑determination, restrictions on multi‑club ownership, and treating football as a protected cultural good.

Download the report here.