Al Jazeera
FIFA is under scrutiny from the states of New York and New Jersey, which have issued subpoenas as part of an investigation into the pricing of tickets and the accuracy of seat assignments for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport remarked that ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup matches significantly exceed those from any previous World Cup event.
FIFA has announced its implementation of a new "dynamic pricing" model, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand levels. This development has led to numerous complaints from fans who have alleged that they paid for tickets in specific areas of the stadium, only to receive assignments for less favorable seats – a situation that has garnered attention from state officials.
When questioned about the high prices of tickets released in October, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization, attributing the inflated costs to the limited availability of tickets for an event of global significance.
The attorneys general are actively seeking information regarding the overall pricing structure for the event, the specifics of seat location pricing, and additional details pertaining to the eight World Cup matches scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This includes not only the final match on July 19 but also group stage matches and early knockout rounds.
"New Yorkers have been eagerly anticipating the World Cup's arrival in their locality, and they deserve equitable access to reasonably priced tickets," stated James in the release. "No individual should be coerced into paying exorbitant prices for seats, and fans must be able to trust that the tickets they acquire will correspond to the seats they are assigned."
The current investigation aims to address fans' concerns who have either purchased tickets or wish to secure tickets but feel misled regarding what they will ultimately receive.
Davenport highlighted the issue, saying, "FIFA has transformed the ticket purchasing process for the World Cup into a maze of confusion, artificial scarcity, and unreasonably high costs – all to the detriment of consumers and hardworking residents of New Jersey."
James noted that regulatory entities have called upon government officials to assist in resolving complaints from fans who reported discrepancies when selecting tickets. Many fans indicated they chose seats from one of four available categories at MetLife Stadium, only to be assigned to seats further from the action than anticipated.
FIFA has also contributed to these complications by introducing a new premium ticket option, termed "Front Category," after initial ticket sales had commenced, thereby further complicating the seating assignment situation.
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