New York, New Jersey Launch Investigation Into FIFA Over World Cup Tickets

ASFN Admin · Monday at 1:32 PM

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FIFA is facing legal scrutiny from both New York and New Jersey over ticket prices and sales practices tied to the 2026 World Cup.

On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that their offices had issued subpoenas to FIFA as part of a joint investigation into how tickets were sold for matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium, including the 2026 World Cup final.

According to the attorneys general, the investigation centers on complaints surrounding rapidly increasing ticket costs, dynamic pricing practices, and allegations that some fans were misled about seat locations after purchasing tickets.

“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets,” James said in a statement announcing the investigation.

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The 2026 tournament marks the first World Cup in which FIFA has fully implemented dynamic ticket pricing, meaning prices fluctuate based on demand. Since ticket sales began, fans across social media and supporter groups have repeatedly criticized the escalating costs, with some prices reportedly reaching levels never previously seen for a World Cup event.

The investigation will reportedly seek internal FIFA documents and information related to ticket releases, pricing adjustments, marketing practices, and seat assignments for the eight matches scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium.

Officials from both states are also looking into reports that ticket prices for many matches significantly increased between late 2025 and spring 2026. New Jersey Attorney General Davenport accused FIFA of creating confusion around the sales process.

“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated,” Davenport said. “But FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity and impossibly high prices.”

Another key focus of the probe involves allegations that fans were assigned seats different from what they believed they purchased.

According to the announcement, FIFA initially sold tickets using broad seating categories before later introducing new premium “Front Category” sections containing the most desirable seats closer to the field. Officials claim many fans who had already purchased Category 1 tickets were excluded from those upgraded sections and instead received seats farther from the action, including behind goalposts or deeper into the stadium.

The attorneys general also said some fans reported receiving seats in lower categories than the ones they originally paid for. FIFA has defended its pricing model in recent months, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously arguing that prices reflect market demand in the United States entertainment industry.