US state authorities probe FIFA over World Cup 2026 ticketing practices
With one week remaining before the tournament, thousands of tickets remain available for over half the matches, contradicting claims of a sold-out event and prompting legal scrutiny.
The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have launched a formal investigation into FIFA regarding its ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, alleging the governing body artificially inflated prices and misled consumers. The inquiry follows a subpoena issued to FIFA, which seeks answers to claims that the organisation withheld critical information regarding pricing structures and seat allocations from fans.
This legal action coincides with data indicating that thousands of tickets remain available for more than half of the tournament’s matches, directly contradicting FIFA’s previous assertions that the event would be sold out. While marquee fixtures involving teams such as Argentina, Brazil, and England are expected to sell out, games featuring host nations and less popular teams show high inventory levels, with prices for matches involving smaller nations falling significantly below face value on both official and secondary marketplaces.
The investigation centres on allegations that FIFA employed variable pricing mechanisms without publishing a clear structure, leaving buyers uncertain of final costs until payment was required. Subpoenas suggest that some fans who secured tickets in one price category were issued seats of lower value further from the pitch, while new, more expensive categories were added to stadium maps without prior notice to ballot participants.
Market data tracked by independent site TicketData reveals fluctuating availability, with approximately 74,000 tickets listed across 86 of the 104 matches at one point. However, numbers on FIFA’s own resale site have dropped sharply in recent days, while listings on secondary platforms like SeatGeek and StubHub have increased. This has led to speculation that FIFA is offloading unsold inventory to third-party sites to avoid empty stadiums, a practice that mirrors issues seen during the recent Club World Cup.
FIFA has been urged to explain its pricing strategy, particularly regarding matches with lower commercial appeal. For instance, tickets for the Jordan versus Algeria fixture were listed at 64 per cent below face value on resale platforms, while the opening match between Mexico and South Africa still had over 500 seats available at $2,273 each. FIFA has not responded to requests for comment, maintaining its stance that it encourages all purchases through its official channels despite the growing regulatory pressure.
