New York and New Jersey attorneys general subpoena FIFA over 2026 World Cup ticket pricing

FIFA has been subpoenaed by the chief legal officers of New York and New Jersey over its ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, with the governing body required to provide information about allegations of price manipulation and consumer deception.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New York Attorney General Letitia James have specifically requested details about ticketing for eight World Cup matches hosted in New Jersey, including England’s group-stage fixture against Panama on June 27 and the World Cup final on July 19.

Fans have reported being misled about the location of seats they purchased, including through the creation of more expensive ‘front’ category tickets released after initial sales had already taken place. It is also alleged that variable pricing across multiple sales phases allowed FIFA to raise prices for approximately 90 of the 104 tournament fixtures by an average of 34 per cent.

Davenport was direct in her criticism of the governing body. “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 said. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation of FIFA’s conduct. It’s an honour to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.”

James echoed those concerns, stating that fans “should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive” and that “no-one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats.”

The investigation will examine how FIFA’s ticket release schedule and public statements may have contributed to soaring prices on the secondary market and among general consumers. New Jersey residents who have not received the World Cup tickets they paid for have been directed to file a complaint with the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs.

FIFA had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.