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The U.S. states of New York and New Jersey launched a joint investigation on Wednesday into whether FIFA exploited football fans with “impossibly high” World Cup ticket prices.
Prosecutors from both states will examine the pricing and sales practices of football’s global governing body ahead of the tournament, which begins on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport accused FIFA of turning the ticket-buying process into a gauntlet of confusion, artificial scarcity, and exorbitant costs.
The probe will specifically investigate allegations that FIFA misled fans regarding seat locations and penalised buyers using aggressive, demand-based dynamic pricing.
Much of the public outrage centres on the steep costs tied to the final match at MetLife Stadium, where fans also face a $100 public transit fee from New York or a $225 parking charge.
New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasised that local fans deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets without facing manipulation or sky-high prices.
The investigation mirrors similar legal actions in California, where authorities recently contacted FIFA over potential consumer violations.
Meanwhile, the fan organisation Football Supporters Europe branded the pricing structure as extortionate and a monumental betrayal, noting that the extreme costs lock everyday fans out of a tournament projected to generate $13 billion for FIFA.
