New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on May 27 an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices for the upcoming World Cup tournament. The investigation follows press reports indicating that fans may have been misled about seat locations and that FIFA’s public statements and ticket releases may have contributed to increased prices.
The attorneys general sent subpoenas to FIFA requesting information about its ticketing process, with a particular focus on eight World Cup matches hosted in New Jersey, including the final scheduled for July 19, 2026. Davenport said, “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.” She added that her office is committed to thoroughly investigating FIFA’s conduct alongside James to protect consumers.
James said, “New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets. 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. I thank Attorney General Davenport for joining this effort to get answers from FIFA and protect our states’ consumers.”
The investigation will address several issues with FIFA’s ticketing process. Reports indicate that fans were initially sold tickets based on stadium seat maps divided into four categories by desirability but later learned new zones called Front Categories had been created within each original category after many had already purchased tickets. These new zones included more desirable seats at higher costs; fans who bought earlier were excluded from these areas and instead assigned less desirable seats farther from the field or behind goals.
Some fans also reported not receiving tickets in their purchased category—such as paying for Category 1 (closest areas) but being assigned Category 2 seats further back. The attorneys general are examining whether such practices affected consumer experiences.
Additionally, concerns include significant price increases over time due to variable pricing tied to demand during phased releases of tickets between October 2025 and April 2026. Press reports indicate that during this period, prices rose by an average of 34% across main categories for more than 90 out of 104 matches. The probe will examine whether FIFA’s release schedule or public communications influenced these price hikes.
Residents who did not receive their expected World Cup tickets are encouraged by officials to file complaints.
