New York and New Jersey Investigate FIFA Over 'Impossibly High' World Cup Ticket Prices and Misleading Sales Practices

State attorneys general step in

The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey announced on Wednesday an official investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11. Jennifer Davenport of New Jersey and Letitia James of New York have issued a subpoena compelling FIFA to turn over internal documents. They are examining allegations that the global football body misled fans about seat locations and deployed a dynamic pricing system that sent costs soaring far beyond any previous tournament.

Fifa has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices. It's an honour to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.

The probe specifically requests details on the eight matches scheduled at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, including the final on July 19 and a June 27 group-stage clash between England and Panama. Authorities have also invited aggrieved residents to file complaints with state consumer protection offices.

Sky‑high prices and seat downgrades

Reporters and fans have documented dramatic price increases. Between October 25 and November 26, 2025, FIFA raised ticket prices for 90 of 104 matches by an average of nearly 34%, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. The cheapest group-stage ticket for Norway vs. Senegal in New Jersey was listed at almost $400, a steep jump from the $69 minimum group-stage price at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The final had hit $4,000 on official channels, with resale platforms listing tickets for as much as $2 million.

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.

Adding to the outrage, some fans reported receiving seats in a lower category than they had paid for after FIFA re-zoned stadiums into additional subcategories that were not disclosed at the time of purchase. This left supporters further from the pitch without compensation.

Mounting pressure from lawmakers and fans

The investigation did not come out of nowhere. In April, 70 US lawmakers sent a letter to FIFA demanding it lower ticket prices, calling the system “an exclusionary, profit-driven enterprise.” The Football Supporters Europe association branded the pricing “extortionate,” denouncing a “monumental betrayal.” In mid‑May, California Attorney General Rob Bonta separately requested information, signaling a widening ring of official scrutiny.

FIFA defends its approach

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pushed back, emphasizing the unprecedented demand. The organisation says it received 500 million ticket requests — ten times the combined total of the previous two tournaments. Infantino maintains that expensive seats coexist with more accessible options, and FIFA had pledged a limited number of $60 tickets under pressure from supporters.

We have received 500 million ticket requests. In the last two World Cups, we had a total of 50 million requests. Yes, there are expensive tickets, but there are also affordable ones.

What happens next

The subpoena forces FIFA to hand over internal pricing documents. Samuel Levine, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said his agency would “examine whether consumers were excluded through manipulative practices.” FIFA has so far declined to comment on the investigation. The probe adds a layer of legal uncertainty to a tournament already shadowed by controversy, with the kick-off now just two weeks away.