FIFA subpoenaed over 2026 World Cup ticket pricing and seat allocation
New York and New Jersey prosecutors have subpoenaed FIFA over allegations of misleading seat allocations and soaring ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
- New York and New Jersey prosecutors subpoenaed FIFA over 2026 World Cup ticketing practices.
- Authorities are investigating allegations of misleading seat allocations and escalating ticket prices.
- Fans reported paying for premium categories but receiving less desirable seating assignments.
FIFA has been subpoenaed by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey as part of an investigation into ticket pricing and seat allocation practices for the 2026 World Cup, amid mounting criticism over what prosecutors described as “sky-high prices” and potentially misleading ticket sales.
The joint investigation, announced on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, by New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, focuses on ticketing practices for matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament — which will host eight World Cup matches, including the final on 19 July 2026.
According to a joint statement from the attorneys general, the probe will examine whether football fans were misled about seat locations and whether FIFA’s ticket releases and public statements contributed to soaring prices.
Investigation into seat allocation
The investigation, supported by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), centres on complaints that FIFA altered seating categories after ticket sales had already begun.
For the initial sales phase, FIFA divided stadium seating into four zones — Categories 1 through 4 — with Category 1 seats positioned closest to the pitch. Prosecutors said FIFA later introduced new “Front Categories” within each section, consisting of the most desirable seats and sold at significantly higher prices.
Authorities said reports indicated that fans who purchased tickets before the introduction of the new categories were excluded from those premium areas and instead assigned less desirable seats, including seats behind the goals or further from the field.
Some supporters also alleged they did not receive seats within the category they had paid for. According to the attorneys general, several fans reported purchasing Category 1 tickets but later being assigned seats located in Category 2 areas.
“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated,” Davenport said in the statement. “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.”
James said New Yorkers “deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets” and that “fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive.”
Prices under scrutiny
The probe will also examine FIFA’s pricing model for the 2026 tournament, which prosecutors said has produced ticket prices “far exceeded the prices for any previous World Cup competition.”
FIFA has used what it describes as “variable pricing”, adjusting ticket costs according to demand. According to the attorneys general, press reports indicated that between October 2025 and April 2026, FIFA increased prices for tickets to more than 90 of the tournament’s 104 matches, with prices across the three main ticket categories rising by an average of 34%.
According to reporting cited by CNN, group-stage tickets in the United States initially ranged from around $60 for limited low-cost seats to more than $600, while face-value tickets for the World Cup final reached as high as $10,990.
The prices triggered widespread backlash among supporters, with resale listings reportedly climbing even further. CNN reported that some resale platforms listed final tickets for as much as $2 million.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already regarded as the most expensive World Cup in history by a wide margin.
Tickets for the final in July were set to cost ordinary fans several thousand dollars — up to five times higher than the cost of attending the 2022 final in Qatar. The broadcaster added that attendance at the previous World Cup final hosted in the United States in 1994 was roughly 20 times cheaper.
Supporters’ groups have previously filed a formal complaint with the European Union over ticket pricing, while supplementary costs such as parking and stadium transport have also drawn criticism.
FIFA response and fan complaints
FIFA declined to comment on the subpoena, according to CNN. The organisation had previously told the broadcaster that its “pricing strategy spans a broad range of price points and categories, reflecting market demand for each match.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the governing body’s use of dynamic pricing, arguing that ticket prices reflect both strong global demand and the high cost of attending sporting events in the United States. He has also partly blamed US laws that prevent organisers from banning ticket resales after purchase.
Authorities said the subpoena seeks information on how tickets are allocated to participating member associations, how tickets are distributed across matches, and the number of seats available in each category.
The investigation follows growing frustration among supporters who said they encountered long queues, rapidly escalating prices and unexpected seat changes during the ticket purchasing process.
DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine said allegations that FIFA may have violated New York City consumer protection laws were “deeply troubling”.
“As excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup, New Yorkers and visitors from around the world deserve transparency and fairness when purchasing tickets,” Levine said.
