On May 7, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued a joint statement announcing they had formally subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into ticket prices and the accuracy of seat locations for the 2026 World Cup.
According to the statement, ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup matches are "far higher than any previous World Cup." For the first time, FIFA has implemented a “dynamic pricing” mechanism, adjusting ticket costs based on market demand. This move has drawn criticism from fans, particularly those who complain they paid for seats in one part of the stadium but received less desirable locations.
When questioned about the high prices, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization, citing the limited supply of tickets for a globally demanded event.
The attorneys general are demanding that FIFA provide information on the general price structure of the event, pricing by seat location, seating positions, and other details related to the eight World Cup matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. These include the final on July 19, as well as group stage and knockout round matches.
"New Yorkers have waited years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets," said Attorney General Letitia James in the statement. "No one should be manipulated into paying exorbitant prices for seating, and fans deserve to trust that the tickets they purchase are exactly what they receive."
The investigation aims to address concerns from fans who have purchased or hope to purchase tickets but feel deceived about the final product. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stated that FIFA has turned the World Cup ticket-buying process into "a confusing race of false scarcity and sky-high prices – all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans."
According to James, oversight agencies have called for government intervention to resolve complaints from fans who say they selected seats in one of four categories at MetLife Stadium but were later assigned to seats farther from the field. FIFA has added to the confusion by introducing a premium “Front Category” ticket tier late, after initial tickets had already been sold.
