FIFA is facing mounting scrutiny in the United States over the pricing of tickets for the 2026 World Cup, after officials in New York and New Jersey opened a formal investigation into the governing body’s sales practices.
The inquiry centres on allegations that football fans were misled during the ticketing process and pushed into paying sharply higher prices through what authorities described as artificial scarcity and confusing sales tactics.
Speaking at a joint announcement on Wednesday, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport accused FIFA of creating “a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity and impossibly high prices” for supporters hoping to attend the tournament.
The investigation, launched alongside New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, includes a subpoena requiring FIFA to hand over internal documents and information related to ticket sales.
Officials are examining why ticket prices for the 2026 tournament have climbed far beyond those seen at previous World Cups.
Allegations of Misleading Sales
Concerns have also been raised about the release of premium “front” category seats after earlier sales phases, leaving some fans believing they had already secured the best available options.
Authorities say they are also reviewing FIFA’s use of variable pricing, which allegedly increased the cost of tickets for most matches during different sales windows. According to investigators, prices for roughly 90 of the tournament’s 104 fixtures rose by an average of 34 per cent.
”Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated,” Davenport said. “It’s an honor to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit residents and visitors.”
The 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to be the biggest in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
Demand for tickets has been intense since sales opened, particularly for matches scheduled in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Miami. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously defended the high prices, saying they reflected extraordinary public demand for the competition.
Yet questions over scarcity have grown louder in recent weeks. As of Wednesday, face-value tickets reportedly remained available for 86 matches, including most group-stage games whose venues and schedules have long been confirmed.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said consumers deserved greater transparency throughout the process.
“No-one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats,” she said, “and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive.”
Samuel Levine, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said allegations that supporters were misled about seat locations would also be examined closely.
“Fans should expect transparency and fairness when buying tickets for the World Cup,” Levine said.
FIFA has declined to comment publicly on the investigation.
Host City Tensions
The dispute over ticket pricing comes amid wider tensions between FIFA and local organizers in several host cities over the cost of staging the tournament.
Earlier this month, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill criticised FIFA over transport arrangements for matches at MetLife Stadium, where the World Cup final is due to be played.
Officials had initially announced train fares from Manhattan to the stadium would cost as much as $150 before reducing the price following public backlash. A standard return journey on the same route typically costs less than $13.
The investigation now places FIFA under growing political and public pressure just over a year before the tournament begins, raising fresh questions about accessibility and affordability at the world’s biggest football event.
About the Author
