Investigation launched into World Cup ticket pricing, misleading MetLife seat locations
Investigators on both sides of the Hudson are examining FIFA's ticket pricing and seating policies for the upcoming World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Getty Images/Dustin Satloff
The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey announced on Wednesday an investigation into ticket sales for this summer's World Cup, scrutinizing complaints that the game's governing body improperly boosted prices and misled purchasers about seat locations.
With tickets soaring to tens of thousands of dollars, the attorneys general have issued subpoenas focused on whether tickets were sold as the best available seats — as even more "premium" seats were later available elsewhere — as well as the use of controversial dynamic pricing by which ticket costs rise or fall in real time depending on demand, the attorneys general offices wrote in a news release.
FIFA, the game's governing body, couldn't be reached for comment.
New Jersey's MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford is set to host eight matches of the World Cup, including the July 19 final. After some fans bought tickets, more desirable "zones" were implemented, the release said.
"Reports indicate that fans who bought tickets before these new zones were introduced were excluded from those seats and instead assigned less desirable seats, including seats far from the field or behind the goals," the release said, adding: "The attorneys general will also investigate FIFA’s ticket prices for 2026 World Cup matches, which have far exceeded the prices for any previous World Cup tournament."
The investigation by the two states' attorneys general — Letitia James, of New York, and Jennifer Davenport, of New Jersey, is the latest development in a series of controversies involving World Cup ticket prices.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an avid soccer fan, has been voicing his discontent since he was a candidate over how much the tickets cost and the plan to vary prices depending on demand.
Last year, Mamdani said the practice was akin to “price gouging.”
And last week, he announced the city had secured 1,000 tickets, at $50 each, for New York City residents, to the World Cup.
The World Cup starts June 11 in Mexico and will come to New Jersey on June 13, with a Brazil versus Morocco match.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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