Fifa summoned – Fifa has been called to explain World Cup 2026 ticket pricing after attorneys general challenged the match-by-match costs — including seats for the final at MetLife Stadium. They pointed to concerns about transparency, consumer protection and reports of mislea
On the Wednesday that brought a formal call for answers, the numbers on ticket availability didn’t line up with the story Fifa has been telling about demand.
Fifa has repeatedly said ticket demand reflects an “absolutely crazy” appetite for the World Cup. with its president Gianni Infantino defending the price as a direct reflection of that interest. But as of Wednesday. face-value tickets were still available for 86 of the 104 matches. and for all but 10 of the group-stage fixtures — matches whose schedules have been known for a long time.
That mismatch landed in the hands of attorneys general who focused on how much residents and visitors are being asked to pay. They highlighted the cost of tickets for eight matches, including the final, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Davenport said, “Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated.” He also added: “It’s an honour to host the World Cup but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.”
James said local residents “deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets.”
“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,” James added.
Levine said supporters should expect “transparency and fairness” when buying tickets for the World Cup.
Levine went further on the legal stakes. “Reports of Fifa conduct in violation of the city’s consumer protection law, including misleading fans about seat locations and artificially inflating prices, are deeply troubling,” Levine said.
The dispute is not just local heat — it follows actions taken in California earlier this month. The investigation comes after California attorney general Rob Bonta sent a letter to Fifa raising concerns about “potentially misleading ticketing practices.”
For months, the friction between local organisers and Fifa has centered on cost. New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill previously criticised Fifa’s refusal to subsidise transport for the tournament and insisted local taxpayers would not foot the bill.
Transport costs became a flashpoint of their own. After it was first announced that a train ticket would cost $150 (£111), NJ Transit backtracked and reduced the fare to $98 (£73). The price matters when the venue is close enough to be reachable. but far enough to make every dollar count: rail journeys from Penn Station in Manhattan to the venue — about 18 miles — are normally $12.90 (£9.50) for a return fare.
Fifa has been approached for comment.
The sequence of claims is now colliding in public: Fifa points to “absolutely crazy” demand and defended pricing. while the attorneys general highlight that face-value tickets remain available for most matches and press on issues of trust — whether fans are being misled about what they’re buying and what they’ll actually receive.
Where this lands next is likely to depend on what Fifa chooses to say when it is summoned to explain the ticketing approach — and whether that explanation can bridge the gap between a market that still shows available face-value tickets and complaints that residents are being pushed toward unaffordable. difficult-to-verify choices.
World Cup 2026 Fifa ticket pricing MetLife Stadium attorneys general consumer protection law Gianni Infantino NJ Transit