US Prosecutors Launch Probe Into FIFA Over ‘Sky-High’ World Cup Ticket Prices

New York, USA
United States prosecutors have opened an investigation into FIFA over what they describe as “sky-high” ticket prices for the ongoing FIFA World Cup, placing the blame squarely on football’s global governing body for pricing out ordinary fans.
Prosecutors from New York and New Jersey issued a stark warning Wednesday, stating that football fans in the tri-state area “deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets” — language that signals a potentially serious legal challenge to FIFA’s pricing and distribution practices.
The investigation is focused on whether FIFA’s ticketing model violates consumer protection laws or constitutes unfair business practices. World Cup 2026, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has seen ticket prices soar to unprecedented levels, with many fans reporting being unable to secure seats without paying several times the face value on secondary markets.
Critics have long accused FIFA of favouring corporate sponsors and wealthy buyers over ordinary supporters. This probe marks one of the most direct interventions by American legal authorities into the organisation’s commercial operations.
FIFA has not yet issued a formal response to the investigation.
The World Cup 2026 is being played across multiple host cities, with matches in New York’s MetLife Stadium among the most sought-after fixtures.