FIFA faces investigation over World Cup's 'impossibly high' ticket prices

New York and New Jersey's top legal officers are launching an investigation into FIFA's ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, citing "impossibly high" prices and deceptive seat assignments. Attorneys General Letitia James and Jennifer Davenport announced they have issued subpoenas to the international soccer federation.

The investigation will scrutinize how FIFA determined ticket prices and selected seats for fans at the tournament's North American venues, including New Jersey, which is hosting eight games. The probe is also examining claims that ticket buyers were misled about their seat locations, with some alleging their purchased seat categories were changed after the fact to place them further from the field.

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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.

James and Davenport accused FIFA of creating "fake scarcity" and manipulating fans into paying exorbitant prices, with some tickets reportedly exceeding $US1,000 and one instance reaching $US4,105 for a match between the US and Paraguay. "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," James stated.

Davenport criticized FIFA's approach, saying it turned buying a World Cup ticket into a "gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices." FIFA has previously defended its pricing strategy, attributing it to high public demand and stating that ticket sales are a crucial revenue stream to fund the growth of the sport globally. The upcoming competition has already faced scrutiny over other issues, such as alleged transit fare hikes on game days.

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turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices