By Yomi Kuku, Toronto, Canada
FIFA is facing a major legal challenge less than three weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey officially subpoenaed football’s governing body over ticket pricing and seat allocation practices linked to matches at MetLife Stadium.
The joint investigation, announced Wednesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, centers on allegations that fans were misled about seat locations while being charged record-breaking prices for tickets to the tournament.
The subpoenas specifically target FIFA’s handling of ticket sales for the eight World Cup matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the semifinals and the July 19 final. Investigators are demanding documents related to ticket categories, seat maps, pricing structures and the release strategy used during the sales process.
In a sharply worded statement, James said supporters “deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets” and warned that “no one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats.” Davenport accused FIFA of creating “fake scarcity” and turning the ticket-buying process into “a gauntlet of confusion.”
According to Reuters and multiple U.S. outlets, the investigation follows mounting complaints from fans who claimed they paid for premium Category 1 tickets but were later assigned seats farther from the pitch in lower-value areas. Officials are also examining claims that FIFA altered seating zones after initial sales began, creating new “front section” categories that effectively downgraded earlier purchasers.
The probe also focuses on FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing and phased ticket releases, practices critics say artificially inflated demand and pushed prices to unprecedented levels. Financial Times reported that prices rose for more than 90 of the tournament’s 104 matches between October 2025 and April 2026, with average increases of roughly 34 percent.
British and American reports have highlighted the staggering cost of attending the tournament. The New York Post reported that some remaining group-stage tickets at MetLife Stadium were selling for more than $2,000, while seats for the World Cup final had climbed above $30,000 on resale markets.
The controversy has intensified because the 2026 tournament is already expected to become the most commercially lucrative World Cup in history. FIFA previously projected revenues of approximately $13 billion for the 2023-2026 cycle, driven largely by expanded broadcasting, sponsorship and ticketing income tied to the new 48-team format.
MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium during the competition under FIFA regulations, will host more matches than any other venue during the tournament, including the final. The 82,500-seat venue is expected to become the center of global attention throughout the competition.
The investigation has also reignited wider criticism surrounding affordability and accessibility for local supporters. Earlier this month, New York City announced a limited program offering 1,000 subsidized World Cup tickets for $50 to city residents after growing backlash over soaring prices and transportation costs connected to MetLife Stadium matches.
Consumer protection officials in New York warned that misleading seat information and aggressive pricing tactics could violate state and city consumer laws. Samuel Levine, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, described the allegations as “deeply troubling” and said authorities would not hesitate to take enforcement action if violations are confirmed.
FIFA has so far declined to comment publicly on the subpoenas or the ongoing investigation.
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