Uefa freezes Champions League final ticket prices after fan backlash over World Cup costs

Champions League ticket prices have been frozen - (Getty Images)

Tickets for the upcoming Champions League final in Budapest will remain at last year's prices, Uefa announced on Monday, as part of a more fan-centric approach that stands in stark contrast to the ticketing controversies surrounding the World Cup.

The European football governing body has outlined strict conditions for its resale platform, mandating that tickets must be sold at face value with no fees levied on the seller.

This policy directly challenges Fifa’s resale platform for World Cup tickets in the United States, which has been criticised for allowing unlimited resale prices and imposing a 15 per cent fee on both buyers and sellers, leading some to label it "official scalping."

For supporters of the two competing clubs, thousands of the lowest-priced tickets, set at €70 (£60), will be available for the third consecutive year.

Tickets for disabled spectators are also priced at €70, with a complimentary ticket provided for a companion. Uefa confirmed that each finalist club will receive 17,200 tickets out of the 61,400 available for the 30 May match at Puskas Arena.

Fans have hit out at Fifa over ticket prices for the World Cup (Reuters)

An additional 4,600 tickets are being offered through a global lottery via Uefa’s website.

Successful applicants will be required to register their mobile phones, which must then be used to access the stadium on match day, as tickets will be non-transferable. Access to purchase resale tickets will be exclusively granted to fans who were unsuccessful in the initial lottery.

Higher category seats, which saw a price increase for last year’s final in Munich, will also maintain their current rates for Budapest, set at €180 (£156), €650 (£562), and €950 (£821).

Over 22,000 tickets are reserved by Uefa for broadcasters, sponsors, national football federations, and other guests.

Uefa’s ticketing policies for its club finals and major tournaments are developed in consultation with Football Supporters Europe, a recognised fans' group, a practice not adopted by Fifa for World Cup pricing.

Fifa did respond to widespread criticism in December by making a limited number of $60 seats available for each of the 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico, to be distributed by national federations to loyal fans.