A German court has issued an injunction against FIFA, ordering the organization to halt what it described as “manipulative processes” related to World Cup ticket sales. The Frankfurt regional court granted a preliminary injunction following a request from Ticombo, a German-based online ticket resale platform, which called for greater transparency in FIFA’s secondary ticket market.

The court ruling requires FIFA to disclose the identity and address of commercial sellers involved in the resale of World Cup tickets, ensuring that buyers are informed of who they are purchasing from before completing their transactions. The injunction specifically targets sales conducted by commercial resellers and demands that this information be provided in a timely manner.

The order presently applies only within Germany and is unlikely to disrupt FIFA’s broader World Cup ticketing operations, which span multiple countries. FIFA did not participate in the Frankfurt court proceedings, and Ticombo intends to pursue legal action in Switzerland, where FIFA is headquartered, although such cases may take considerable time to resolve.

FIFA has generated significant revenue from its official secondary ticketing platform during this World Cup, benefiting from a 15% commission fee charged to both sellers and buyers. This model has drawn criticism given the soaring prices on the secondary market, which have reached tens of thousands of pounds due to high demand. Unlike in some countries, such as the United Kingdom where ticket resale regulations are stricter, the resale of tickets at a profit is permitted in the United States, where this World Cup is being held.

Ticombo acknowledged that the injunction arrives too late to impact the current tournament but aims to maintain pressure on FIFA to reform its ticketing practices ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted primarily by Spain and Portugal. In its court submission, Ticombo accused FIFA of deliberately obscuring the identities and commercial status of sellers to enable undisclosed traders to sell tickets at inflated prices.

FIFA has been contacted for comment on the injunction but has not provided a response.