East Rutherford, NJ (May 28, 2026) — FIFA is facing a new consumer protection investigation in New York and New Jersey over ticket prices and sales practices tied to next summer’s World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium.

The inquiry is focused on whether fans were treated fairly during the ticket-buying process for games scheduled at the East Rutherford venue, which is set to host eight matches, including the tournament final. Officials in both states have issued subpoenas seeking information about pricing methods, seating assignments, and how ticket categories were presented to buyers.

One major area of concern is the use of variable pricing, a system that allows prices to rise based on demand. Fans have complained that costs increased sharply for many matches, leaving some buyers facing far higher prices than expected. Investigators are also reviewing changes to stadium seating maps, after some customers reported that seats they believed were in premium areas appeared to be reassigned farther from the field under revised layouts.

MetLife Stadium, temporarily operating under a World Cup venue name, will host its first tournament match on June 13, when Brazil is scheduled to face Morocco. The final is set for July 19, and some resale listings for that game have climbed to extraordinary levels, with certain seats posted for tens of thousands of dollars.

The investigation comes as local officials face growing pressure to make the global event more accessible to residents in the region. New York City recently announced a limited lottery offering 1,000 discounted tickets to city residents for MetLife matches, excluding the final. Those seats are being offered at $50 each, along with transportation support.

FIFA has also previously made a smaller number of lower-cost tickets available through national team channels, but critics say those offerings do not offset broader concerns about affordability, transparency, and access.

With the World Cup approaching, the probe adds another layer of scrutiny to one of the tournament’s most high-profile host sites and could shape how ticketing complaints are handled before fans arrive in the New York-New Jersey area.