NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- New York and New Jersey are investigating the process used by FIFA to sell tickets to World Cup soccer games set to start next month, after some buyers complained they didn’t get the seats they paid for.
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is hosting eight World Cup matches, including the final game of the international soccer tournament in July. New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said Wednesday they’ve issued subpoenas in a probe of FIFA ticket prices at the stadium and whether spectators were misled.
“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets,” James said in a statement. “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.”
Signage for the FIFA World Cup at The Shops at Columbus Circle in New York on Thursday, May 21, 2026.Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
James and Davenport claim FIFA’s initial seat map for MetLife included four separate zones, but the organization then created new sections after some customers had already purchased tickets. Those fans were assigned seats far from the field or behind goals when they originally purchased seats closer to the field, the attorneys general said.
The US, Canada and Mexico are hosting the games, which begin on June 11. It’s the first time the US has hosted a World Cup since 1994. FIFA is expected to gain $11 billion in revenue from the tournament. Fans and local officials have criticized the high ticket prices to attend the matches.
A FIFA spokesperson didn’t immediately return an email seeking a request for comment.
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