FIFA is now under investigation in the United States over allegations that its ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup were misleading and excessively priced, with fans reportedly facing inflated costs and confusing purchase processes.
According to reports from BBC Sport on Wednesday, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have opened a formal probe into the ticketing system used by FIFA. The body is being accused of creating artificial demand and repeatedly increasing prices across different phases of ticket sales.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport described the process as chaotic for fans, saying buyers were subjected to “confusion, fake scarcity and impossibly high prices.” She confirmed that FIFA has been issued a subpoena to submit internal records and documents related to how tickets were sold.
Preliminary findings being reviewed suggest that prices for about 90 out of the 104 World Cup matches rose by an average of 34% as each sales phase progressed. Authorities are also examining claims that supporters were misled about seat availability and match locations, especially after higher-priced ticket categories were introduced after sales had already begun.
Officials in New York’s consumer protection department also stated that they are treating the allegations seriously, with Samuel A. Levine noting that any form of deceptive pricing or manipulation would be thoroughly investigated. He added that regulators are looking into whether ticket prices were intentionally inflated beyond reasonable levels.
Investigators have also requested explanations from FIFA on why 2026 World Cup ticket prices appear significantly higher than those of previous editions of the tournament.
FIFA has not yet issued any public response to the ongoing investigation.