FIFA is under investigation over its World Cup 2026 ticket sales practices.

The states of New York and New Jersey have launched an investigation into FIFA, suspecting a lack of transparency in the sale of tickets for the 2026 World Cup and that it has harmed fans.

The investigation into FIFA 's handling of World Cup 2026 ticket sales is becoming one of the biggest controversies ahead of the tournament in North America.

The states of New York and New Jersey have officially subpoenaed FIFA requesting information on the ticketing process for matches at MetLife Stadium, which will host eight 2026 World Cup games, including the final on July 19th.

FIFA is under investigation by two US states. Photo: FIFA

The focus of the investigation lies in the fact that many fans believe they were misled about their seating arrangements.

Initially, FIFA divided tickets into four categories, from Category 1 to Category 4, with Category 1 being the most luxurious area.

However, after many people had already bought tickets, FIFA went on to create the "Front Categories" system, further dividing the regions into different tiers.

This has led many viewers who paid a large sum for Category 1 tickets to discover they are no longer in the best seats as they initially expected.

More seriously, some fans claim they didn't even receive the correct ticket category they paid for. In some cases, they bought Category 1 tickets but their actual seats were in Category 2.

Jordan Likover, a fan who bought a World Cup ticket, described the experience as like "a shuffling of cards" after the ticket allocation system was complete.

Pressure on FIFA

New York State Attorney General Letitia James argued that people had waited years for the World Cup to return to America and that they “deserve the opportunity to purchase tickets fairly at reasonable prices.”

Ms. James emphasized that fans have the right to believe that the tickets they buy will correspond to the advertised seating.

The ball hasn't even started rolling for the 2026 World Cup, but the excitement is already building beyond the official competition. Photo: FIFA

Meanwhile, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport accused FIFA of turning ticket purchases into “a labyrinth of chaos, a false sense of scarcity, and exorbitant prices.”

American media quoted Davenport as saying that FIFA is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into its business practices.

Besides the issue of seat availability, ticket prices are also a major source of frustration. FIFA's first-ever "dynamic pricing" mechanism – flexible pricing based on demand – has led to a sharp increase in ticket prices on resale platforms.

According to investigators, the phased ticket sales and constant price adjustments have driven up the average ticket price by approximately 34%.

FIFA has declined to comment on the matter. However, pressure is mounting as several American politicians become involved.

In addition, consumer protection organizations and fans are collectively demanding that the world's largest football governing body be more transparent in the ticket sales process for the most anticipated World Cup in history.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/fifa-bi-dieu-tra-ve-hoat-dong-ban-ve-world-cup-2026-2520225.html