New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport have issued subpoenas to FIFA as part of a joint investigation into ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, following complaints from fans about misleading seat assignments and sharply rising prices.
The subpoenas, announced Wednesday, seek information about how tickets are being marketed and sold, particularly for matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will host eight games, including the World Cup final on July 19, 2026. The investigation is being conducted with support from the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
“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. “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.”
Officials said the probe was launched after reports that some fans were misled about the location and quality of their seats. FIFA initially divided stadium seating into four tiers, labeled Category 1 through Category 4, with Category 1 offering the most desirable views. However, after initial sales, FIFA introduced additional “Front” categories within each tier, consisting of premium seats at higher prices.
According to the attorneys general, fans who purchased tickets before the new categories were introduced were excluded from those premium sections and instead assigned less favorable seats, including those farther from the field or behind goals.
Some consumers also reported receiving tickets in lower categories than what they had paid for, including cases where buyers who selected Category 1 seats were placed in Category 2 sections.
Davenport criticized FIFA’s pricing and sales approach, saying it created confusion and inflated costs for consumers.
“FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices,” Davenport said. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation of FIFA’s conduct.”
The investigation will also examine FIFA’s use of “variable pricing,” a system that adjusts ticket costs based on demand. Officials cited reports that ticket prices for more than 90 of the tournament’s 104 matches increased between October 2025 and April 2026, with average price hikes of about 34% across major seating categories.
New York City Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel Levine said the agency is reviewing whether FIFA’s practices violate local consumer protection laws.
“Reports of misleading fans about seat locations and artificially inflating prices are deeply troubling,” Levine said, adding that the agency would take enforcement action if necessary.
Authorities are urging fans who believe they did not receive the tickets they paid for to file complaints with the New York Attorney General’s office.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
