New York and New Jersey attorneys general have issued a subpoena to the football governing body, FIFA, over allegations of inflated ticket prices and misleading fans in the sale of tickets for the 2026 World Cup. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport confirmed the decision in a statement on Wednesday, saying they were seeking information on how FIFA sold tickets for World Cup matches that would take place at MetLife Stadium.

“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they 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 purchased will be the ones they receive,” Ms James said. 

The MetLife Stadium is set to hold eight matches during the World Cup, including the final on July 19. 

“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated. But FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity and impossibly high prices. It is an honour to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors,” Ms Davenport added.

FIFA has come under fire from football fans over the high cost of World Cup tickets after the governing body introduced dynamic pricing for the first time, with prices now determined by demand rather than a fixed pricing system.

A recent survey found that the lowest price for a ticket to the World Cup final was almost $2,030, which is 10 times higher than the minimum ticket price for the last World Cup in Qatar.