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New York and New Jersey attorneys general subpoena FIFA over World Cup ticketing practices at MetLife Stadium
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport have subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup tournament at MetLife Stadium. Fans have reported being misled about ticket locations and facing prices that far exceed those of any previous World Cup. The NYC mayor has allocated 1,000 tickets at $50 to ensure affordability.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport have jointly subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into the international football governing body's ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup tournament. The probe focuses specifically on ticketing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, one of the primary venues for the tournament, and is examining a range of issues that have emerged since tickets went on sale.
The investigation was prompted by widespread complaints from fans who reported being misled about where the tickets they purchased would actually be located within the stadium. Consumers have alleged that the seating they received did not correspond to what was advertised or implied during the purchasing process, raising serious consumer protection concerns. The attorneys general are seeking detailed information from FIFA about its ticketing allocation, pricing structures and disclosure practices.
Beyond the location complaints, the investigation is also examining ticket prices that have far exceeded those of any previous World Cup tournament in history. Bloomberg reported that the pricing has effectively priced out many ordinary New Yorkers from attending matches in their own backyard. The affordability concern has become a significant public issue, with local officials scrambling to ensure that the tournament remains accessible to residents of the host metropolitan area rather than becoming an exclusively premium event.
In response to the affordability crisis, the New York City mayor has allocated approximately 1,000 tickets at $50 each to ensure that at least some local residents can attend matches at a reasonable price. However, critics argue that this allocation represents a tiny fraction of the total capacity and does little to address the systemic pricing issues that have made the World Cup financially inaccessible for working-class and middle-income families in one of the world's most expensive cities.
The subpoena represents a significant escalation in official scrutiny of FIFA's commercial practices in the United States. The investigation raises broader questions about the extent to which FIFA ceded too much authority over local arrangements when the tournament was awarded to the US, with some commentators arguing that American authorities should have maintained greater control over ticketing and fan access policies. The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 12th, meaning the investigation is unfolding against a tight timeline with matches just weeks away. FIFA has not yet publicly responded to the subpoena.