FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Scandal: NY/NJ Subpoena FIFA Over Dynamic Pricing and Seat Map Fraud

# FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Scandal: NY/NJ Subpoena FIFA Over Dynamic Pricing and Seat Map Fraud

> **Quick answer:** On May 27, 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport subpoenaed FIFA over its World Cup 2026 ticketing practices. FIFA raised prices for 90+ of 104 matches by an average of 34% between October 2025 and April 2026, and changed stadium seat zone maps after fans had already purchased tickets — placing early buyers in worse seats than advertised. The investigation centers on MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which hosts eight matches including the July 19 World Cup Final.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket scandal has just escalated from fan outrage to a formal legal investigation. Two state attorneys general subpoenaed FIFA on May 27, citing a pattern of dynamic pricing abuse and misleading seat zone maps that left consumers paying far more — and sitting much farther from the field — than they ever agreed to.

## What Happened: The NY and NJ Subpoena Explained

New York AG Letitia James and New Jersey AG Jennifer Davenport jointly issued subpoenas to FIFA demanding detailed records of its ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup. The investigation focuses specifically on matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — which hosts eight games including the July 19, 2026 World Cup Final.

"No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive," AG James said in the official press release from her office.