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California has opened inquiries into possible legal violations linked to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) World Cup ticket sales, after allegations that some fans were assigned seats that did not match the categories shown at the point of purchase.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement on Wednesday that his office had contacted FIFA over concerns that ticketing practices may have misled consumers during the sales process for the 2026 World Cup.
He said Californians must be able to rely on the accuracy of ticket information provided at the time of purchase, adding that the state expects full cooperation from FIFA as part of its ongoing review into the matter.
“Californians should be able to trust that the seats they purchase match the representations made during the sales process,” Bonta said.
“We look forward to receiving the requested information from FIFA as part of our ongoing review.”
Bonta noted that the investigation follows complaints from supporters who believe the seating allocations they received did not reflect the category descriptions and stadium maps displayed at the time of sale.
According to earlier reports, FIFA used colour-coded stadium maps to sell more than three million tickets across different price categories for the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, some buyers reportedly found that seats later assigned to them were located in sections that had originally been displayed under lower-priced categories, raising concerns about possible misrepresentation.
The attorney general has requested detailed information from FIFA, including records of any changes made to seating maps and data on whether customers received lower-category seats than those advertised.
FIFA, in response to media reports, has maintained that the seating maps provided during the sales process were only indicative and served as general guidance rather than exact seat allocations.
The pricing structure for the tournament has already drawn widespread criticism from fan groups, who have described ticket costs as excessive and out of reach for ordinary supporters.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has criticised the pricing model, arguing that it undermines access to the tournament and reflects what it called an unfair ticketing system.
The 2026 World Cup, which is expected to generate significant revenue for FIFA, will feature some of the highest ticket prices in the competition’s history, with final match tickets reportedly reaching record levels compared to previous editions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing structure, saying it reflects market conditions in the United States, which will host the majority of matches including the semi-finals and final.
