FIFA World Cup ticket sales under investigation by NJ, NY attorneys general
The investigation will examine reports that fans were misled about seat locations.
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New Jersey and New York’s attorneys general are investigating FIFA’s ticketing practices for the upcoming World Cup following reports that fans faced soaring prices and, in some cases, did not receive seats as advertised.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that they sent subpoenas to FIFA seeking information about its ticketing practices. The subpoenas specifically request details about eight World Cup matches hosted in New Jersey, including the World Cup final on July 19, 2026.
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The investigation will examine reports that fans were misled about seat locations. According to the attorneys general, FIFA initially divided stadium seating into four zones, Category 1 through Category 4, then later created new “Front Categories” made up of the most desirable seats within each category at significantly higher prices.
Officials said some fans who bought tickets before the new zones were introduced were assigned less-desirable seats, including seats far from the field or behind the goals. Some fans also reported paying for Category 1 tickets but receiving seats in Category 2 areas.
The attorneys general will also review FIFA’s ticket prices, including its use of “variable pricing” to adjust prices based on demand. According to the official release, press reports indicated FIFA raised ticket prices for more than 90 of the 104 World Cup matches between October 2025 and April 2026, with prices for the three main ticket categories rising by an average of 34%.
“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated. But FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices — all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans,” said Attorney General Davenport.
New Jerseyans who did not receive the World Cup tickets they paid for are encouraged to file a complaint with the state Division of Consumer Affairs.
