The investigation began just two weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup, notes Euronews. Prosecutors cite concerns about misleading pricing and the accuracy of seat allocation. And FIFA’s many critics accuse the organization of exploiting fans who have waited years for a major soccer tournament.
A joint statement from prosecutors in New York and New Jersey demanded internal documents on how ticket prices were set and how seat categories were determined and promoted, Euronews specifies.
What FIFA is accused of
The investigation focuses on eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, including the tournament final scheduled for July 19.
“New Yorkers have waited years to have the World Cup at their home, and they deserve a fair chance at affordable tickets,” the publication quoted New York Attorney General Leticia James as saying.
Part of the investigation focuses on complaints from buyers who say they received seats in less attractive areas of the stadium than the ones they originally selected and paid for.
According to the attorneys general, FIFA added to the confusion when it introduced a new premium “Front Category” ticket category after the initial sales phase had already been completed, effectively redesigning the seat hierarchy for fans who had already paid their money.
Investigators are also looking into FIFA’s use of “variable pricing,” a demand-driven model first used at the World Cup.
Ticket prices for more than 90 matches reportedly increased between October 2025 and April 2026, and an investigation by The Athletic revealed price hikes of about 25 percent for games in Mexico and Canada.
At the time of publication, FIFA had not publicly commented on the investigation.
The investigation comes amid a growing wave of criticism from fans and regulators over the tournament, which is expected to generate about $13 billion in revenue for the organization.
The EU has also filed a complaint against FIFA
In March, consumer rights organization Euroconsumers and the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) network filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of abusing its monopoly position in the ticketing market and calling the current prices “predatory” and a “monumental betrayal” of fans, Euronews recalls.
The European Commission acknowledged receipt of the complaint and said it would review the case under standard procedures, but no further developments have since been reported.
At the center of the European complaint, as activists emphasize, is the glaring gap between promises and reality.
FIFA initially said tickets for group stage matches would be priced from $60, but according to Euroconsumers, almost no fans have managed to buy seats at that price.
In addition, through its own resale platform, the organization charges a 15% commission to both buyers and sellers – a practice that Euroconsumers calls extremely lucrative for the governing body and harmful to consumer rights.
FIFA, which describes itself as a non-profit organization and says its revenues are redistributed among its 211 member associations, defends its model, citing unprecedented global demand and more than 500 million requests for tickets for the tournament.
