A German court has ordered FIFA to stop manipulative practices in World Cup ticket sales, granting a preliminary injunction requested by Ticombo, a Germany-based online ticket resale platform.
The Frankfurt regional court instructed FIFA to increase transparency in secondary ticketing by disclosing the identity and address of commercial sellers before purchase completion.
According to the court order, FIFA must cease facilitating ticket sales without informing buyers of the seller's commercial status and details.
The injunction applies only within Germany and is unlikely to disrupt FIFA's broader tournament operations.
FIFA did not appear before the court, and Ticombo plans to take the case to Switzerland.
FIFA has earned millions from its official secondary ticketing market during this World Cup, as reselling tickets at a profit is legal in the United States.
Massive demand has driven secondary market prices to tens of thousands of pounds.
FIFA charges a 15% commission from both seller and buyer, profiting three times from a single ticket sale.
Consumers have repeatedly complained about a lack of transparency regarding seller identities and seat locations.
In May, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched an investigation into ticket sales at MetLife Stadium, the venue for Sunday's final, following fan complaints about misleading seat locations.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said: "No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive."
Ticombo acknowledges the injunction arrived too late for this World Cup but aims to maintain pressure on FIFA before the 2030 tournament, which will mostly take place in Spain and Portugal.
In its court submission, Ticombo accused FIFA of systematically concealing trader identities to allow commercial entities to sell ticket allocations at inflated prices as undisclosed traders.
Ticombo also claims FIFA uses manipulative design features on its last-minute sales platform, including bait-and-switch pricing where costs rise steeply at checkout.
Buyers face aggressive, non-resettable six-minute countdown deadlines that lock them out if the purchase is incomplete.
The platform also uses a "book the best seat" function that automatically selects the most expensive seat, removing consumer choice.
A Ticombo spokesperson said: "This historic injunction is an important legal and public-interest step for football fans.
We initiated this legal action to establish that transparency, fairness, and consumer rights must remain central standards in the ticketing industry, including for the world’s largest sporting events."
FIFA has been approached for comment regarding the court ruling.
