The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have launched an investigation into Fifa’s ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, focusing on matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The probe, announced on Wednesday by Letitia James and Jennifer Davenport, centres on claims that fans were misled about seat locations and that Fifa’s public messaging contributed to inflated prices.
Both officials criticised Fifa in statements. James said: “No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive.” Davenport accused Fifa of practising “fake scarcity” by withholding blocks of tickets to drive up prices, a claim now made by a law enforcement authority for the first time.
The investigation was supported by Samuel A A Levine, commissioner of New York City’s department of consumer and worker protection, who said the reported conduct would violate city consumer protection law. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also backed the probe, stating: “No one should be allowed to exploit New Jersey fans or those coming to our state.”
Fifa has faced widespread criticism over its use of dynamic pricing for the tournament, which kicks off in two weeks across 16 cities in the US, Mexico and Canada. The average ticket price has exceeded $1,000 since sales began, despite a nominal floor of $60. A Guardian analysis found that the cheapest tickets saw the steepest price increases.
In response, Fifa released limited cheaper tickets, including a Supporter Entry Tier capped at $60 but comprising only 1.6% of all tickets. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani also announced a small number of tickets for MetLife Stadium matches (excluding the final) at $50 each, including round-trip bus travel. The investigation also examines seat placement, after Fifa initially said categories would be based on distance from the pitch but later reverted to a system similar to previous World Cups.
