European soccer fans have lodged a formal complaint over the high cost of tickets for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and the consumer rights organization Euroconsumers filed an 18-page complaint on Tuesday with the European Commission in Brussels.

“FIFA holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market,” FSE and Euroconsumers said in a joint statement.

They argue that ticket prices are significantly higher than at any previous World Cup. Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 start at $4,185 — seven times the cost of the cheapest ticket at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

The complaint accuses FIFA of engaging in “bait advertising,” “uncontrolled” dynamic pricing, “pressure-selling tactics” and a lack of transparency about seat locations and refund policies.

“Dynamic pricing turns fans’ loyalty into a bidding war, inflates costs without added value and locks out many supporters,” said Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers, per ESPN.

The allegation of bait advertising, which is illegal under European Union consumer laws, is a reference to FIFA’s claim in October that group-stage ticket prices started at $60. However, after fans’ groups across Europe complained about the lack of availability at that price, FIFA had to release more tickets at that price in December.

“Football is a universal passion but FIFA is treating it like a private luxury by exploiting its absolute monopoly over World Cup ticketing,” said Marco Scialdone, head of litigation at Euroconsumers, per The Athletic.

“We are calling on the European Commission to intervene immediately with interim measures to halt these exploitative practices before the 2026 tournament begins.”

The World Cup opens on June 11, with matches taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

–Field Level Media

One of the final Masters spots is on the line at this week’s PGA Tour stop in Houston, while the LPGA Tour hits Arizona, the DP World Tour continues its Asia Swing and the Champions visit southern California.

PGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Texas Children’s Houston Open, March 26-29

Course: Memorial Park Golf Course (Par 70, 7,475 Yards)

Purse: $9.9M (Winner: $1.782M)

Defending Champion: Min Woo Lee

FedEx Cup Leader: Jacob Bridgeman

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Sunday: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m.

X: @TCHouOpen

NOTES: The field includes 18 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. … The winner will earn a spot in the Masters next month if not already exempt. Thirty players in the field have already qualified to play at Augusta National. … World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew Tuesday due to the impending birth of his second child with his wife, Meredith. He was replaced in the field by Matt Kuchar. … Woo set the tournament scoring record at Memorial Park of 260 with his one-shot victory over Scheffler and Gary Woodland last year. … Brooks Koepka, who will be making his sixth start in his return to the PGA Tour, assisted in the 2019 renovation of Memorial Park along with Tom Doak and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. … Sponsor exemptions include Texas A&M alum Bronson Burgoon, Texas alum Cole Hammer and Mason Howell, an 18-year-old who has committed to the University of Georgia.

BEST BETS: Lee (+1500 at DraftKings) is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend his title at Memorial Park. … Chris Gotterup (+2050) is a four-time PGA Tour winner and the only two-time winner on tour this year. … Sam Burns (+2350) bookended a pair of missed cuts with a T6 at Pebble Beach and a T13 at The Players. … Jake Knapp (+2400) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 42 who has yet to qualify for the Masters. … Michael Thorbjornsen (+3200) is still seeking his first win on tour, but played in the final group at The Players, carding a 77 to finish T22. … Marco Penge (+3200) is coming off a T4 last week, his best result so far in 2026 after winning the Open de Espana in October. … Sungjae Im (+6100) held the lead after each of the first three rounds last week before being undone by a 74 on Sunday that dropped him to T4.

Last Tournament: Valspar Championship (Matt Fitzpatrick)

Next Tournament: Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, April 2-5

LPGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Ford Championship, Chandler, Ariz., March 26-29

Course: Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course (Par 72, 6,675 Yards)

Purse: $2.25M

Defending Champion: Hyo Joo Kim

Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda

HOW TO FOLLOW:

TV: Thursday-Sunday: 6-7 p.m. ET (GolfChannel.com), 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel)

X: @LPGA

NOTES: World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who won the inaugural Ford Championship in 2024, finished one shot off the lead last week to follow up her win in the weather-shortened Tournament of Champions. She is joined in this week’s field by World No. 1 Jenno Thitikul and No. 3 Charley Hull as well as her sister, Jessica, a six-time winner who will tee it up on the LPGA Tour for the first time since 2023. Jessica Korda, 33, has taken time off for maternity leave after recovering from a back injury. … Lizette Salas, who has been sidelined since 2024 due to her own back injury, is also in the field along with Lexi Thompson. … Kim overcame a four-shot deficit to win last year, beating Lilia Vu with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Last Tournament: Fortinet Founders Cup (Kim)

Next Tournament: Aramco Championship, Las Vegas, April 2-5

DP WORLD TOUR

THIS WEEK: Hero Indian Open, New Delhi, March 26-29

Course: DLF G&CC (Par 72, 7,416 Yards)

Purse: $2.25M

Defending Champion: Eugenio Chacarra

Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: 3:30-8:30 a.m.; Saturday, 4-8:30 a.m.; Sunday: 2:30-7:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)

X: @DPWorldTour

NOTES: Chacarra won by two shots last year for his maiden DP World Tour title, and was one of only three players to finish under par. … Akshay Bhatia, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month, is in the field. … The is the second of the four-event Asia Swing, with DP World Tour members competing for a total prize fund of $10.6 million. … The player who finishes first in the Asia Swing will earn a place in all events in Phase Two of the DP World Tour season, the Back 9 and a $200,000 bonus. Japan’s Keita Nakajima won last year’s Asia Swing. … The three leading DP World Tour members will qualify for the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club from May 14-17.

Last Tournament: Hainan Classic (Jordan Gumberg)

Next Tournament: China Open, Shanghai, April 23-26

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

THIS WEEK: Hoag Classic, Newport Beach, Calif., March 27-29

Course: Newport Beach Country Club (Par 71, 6,725 Yards)

Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)

Defending Champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (GolfChannel.com); 10 p.m.-Midnight (Golf Channel — Tape Delay); Saturday-Sunday: 4-5 p.m. (GolfChannel.com), 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)

X: @ChampionsTour

NOTES: This is the fifth of 28 events on the 2026 schedule. … Two-time event winner Ernie Els (2020, 2023) is in the field.

Last Tournament: Cologuard Classic (Steven Alker)

Next Tournament: Senior PGA Championship, Bradenton, Fla., April 16-19

LIV GOLF LEAGUE

THIS WEEK: OFF.

2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC

X: @livgolf_league

Last Event: LIV Golf South Africa (Individual: Bryson DeChambeau; Team: Crushers GC)

Next Event: LIV Golf Mexico City, April 16-19

–Field Level Media

The National Basketball Players Association criticized the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday for wanting to sit superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo despite his being “healthy and ready to play,” implying the team is “tanking.”

The union’s statement was in response to reports last week that Antetokounmpo refused the Bucks’ request to play. He is currently sidelined by what the team said is a left knee injury with a bone bruise with no timeline for his return, but the 31-year-old wants to play before the season ends, per reports.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in its statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, has endured an injury-plagued season that has caused him to miss a career-high 35 games. The team, which had rebuffed trade offers for its superstar, has argued that it’s best for Antetokounmpo’s future as well as for the organization that he cut short the season, per reports.

Milwaukee (29-42) is 12-23 without the 10-time All-Star this season and 17-19 with him. With 11 regular-season games remaining, the Bucks are the first team outside of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament in 11th place through Monday, trailing the Charlotte Hornets by eight games for 10th place.

Antetokounmpo missed 15 games due to a calf strain before returning on March 2, then sat out another two games when the team went 2-6 with him and 0-2 without him. A left ankle sprain was cited as the cause of his absence from the 122-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 14.

He exited during the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a dunk during a home victory over the Indiana Pacers on March 15. Then he missed a home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 17 and road games against the Utah Jazz on Thursday (loss), against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday (win) and the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday (loss).

He is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games and already is set to play the fewest games of his 13 seasons with the Bucks. His previous low was 61 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Antetokounmpo has career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 895 games (830 starts).

–Field Level Media