The cost of England's World Cup tickets at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium is at the centre of a criminal investigation by US prosecutors. The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have issued subpoenas to FIFA, demanding documents related to ticket sales after fans accused the organisation of misleading buyers and driving up prices.
Fan Complaints and Investigation
Supporters claim they were deceived about seat locations and charged prices that did not match what they received. John Pearson, an England fan from Hull, said he had followed the team for 28 years but could not justify the cost and will miss his first World Cup since 1998. He described FIFA's system as a 'disgrace' and said fans were treated like 'cash machines'.
Seating Map Alterations
Prosecutors are examining whether FIFA changed seating maps after tickets went on sale. The stadium was originally divided into four zones, but investigators believe FIFA created new zones and added front sections, causing fans who thought they had prime seats to be reassigned behind goals or higher up.
Ticket Prices and Resale Market
Face-value tickets for group matches ranged from £45 to over £445, while final tickets reached up to £8,180 before resale. Some platforms listed final tickets for nearly £1.5 million. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an initiative to offer £37 tickets to residents.
Legal Actions
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stated that FIFA turned buying tickets into a 'gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices'. New York Attorney General Letitia James said fans deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has also requested information from FIFA to assess consumer protection law violations.
FIFA's Response
FIFA has declined to comment on the investigations. The organisation previously stated that its pricing strategy reflects market demand for each fixture.
