FIFA Ticket Sales Under Scrutiny In New York-New Jersey World Cup Probe

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Officials in New York and New Jersey said Wednesday they have opened an investigation into FIFA’s World Cup ticketing, amid claims that football supporters are being pushed into paying “impossibly high” prices.

Prosecutors from both states said the review will examine how tickets are being sold by FIFA, football’s global governing body and the organiser of the tournament, which begins June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices,” said Jennifer Davenport, attorney general for New Jersey, where the July 19 final is scheduled to be played.

“We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation of FIFA’s conduct,” she added.

The probe will look into allegations that supporters were given misleading information about where their seats would be and were affected by forceful demand-driven pricing, a system in which costs climb as sales increase.

Letitia James, the attorney general for New York, said fans in the state had waited a long time for the tournament to be staged nearby and should have a genuine chance to buy tickets at reasonable prices.

“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 said.

The main criticism has centred on the expense of going to the eight matches set for the New York Giants and Jets NFL stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City.

Beyond the ticket cost, supporters travelling by rail from New York will face a $100 fare, compared with the usual $12.90 price.

California officials said in May that they had also reached out to FIFA about possible breaches of law connected to ticket sales.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a fan group, has described the World Cup ticket model as “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal,” arguing that prices have placed the tournament beyond the means of many fans. The competition is expected to help FIFA generate $13 billion.

US President Donald Trump brushed aside complaints about prices on Wednesday, calling the tournament “amazing.”

“The World Cup is great. It’s the most successful they’ve ever had, ticket-wise. They’ve never had anything that sold so quickly,” he said.