{"id":3918,"date":"2026-05-28T18:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/28\/fifas-world-cup-ticket-sales-outraged-fans-now-they-are-under-investigation\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:40:10","slug":"fifas-world-cup-ticket-sales-outraged-fans-now-they-are-under-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3918","title":{"rendered":"FIFA&#8217;s World Cup ticket sales outraged fans. Now they are under investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>FIFA&#8217;s World Cup ticket sales outraged fans. Now they are under investigation<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-05-28T13:48:15-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">May 28, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">1:48 PM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<p class=\"byline__name--block\">By\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/1241179065\/rafael-nam\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Rafael Nam<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-124574\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5142;--source-height: 3278\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5142x3278+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F5d%2Fe1eedf1b4b44b8c4c644242abb34%2Fgettyimages-2247178952.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5142x3278+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F5d%2Fe1eedf1b4b44b8c4c644242abb34%2Fgettyimages-2247178952.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"FIFA \u2014 led by Gianni Infantino \u2014 is facing a joint probe from attorneys generals in New Jersey and New York.\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                FIFA \u2014 led by Gianni Infantino \u2014 is facing a joint probe from attorneys general in New Jersey and New York.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Win McNamee\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Win McNamee\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>FIFA President Gianni Infantino has had an answer when asked about the sky-high ticket prices for this summer&#8217;s World Cup: They are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/48696372\/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-2026-world-cup-ticket-prices-usa\" target=\"_blank\">simply adapting to the North American<\/a> market.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5836514-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5835227\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835227\/world-cup-2026-cities-training-base\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835227\/world-cup-2026-cities-training-base\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3147x3147+787+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fa4%2F1499dc5e4405b7f40ffff6138605%2Fgettyimages-2277166562.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3147x3147+787+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fa4%2F1499dc5e4405b7f40ffff6138605%2Fgettyimages-2277166562.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3147x3147+787+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fa4%2F1499dc5e4405b7f40ffff6138605%2Fgettyimages-2277166562.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"A view of World Cup signage at New York New Jersey Stadium on May 19 in East Rutherford, N.J., one of 11 sites where matches will be played in the U.S.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/2026-world-cup-north-america\">2026 World Cup: North America <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835227\/world-cup-2026-cities-training-base\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835227\/world-cup-2026-cities-training-base\"}'> 39 World Cup teams will be based in the U.S. Here&#8217;s which squad will be closest to you<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5836514-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s the justification FIFA has used to sharply increase ticket prices for the World Cup taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer compared to previous tournaments.<\/p>\n<p>But those increases could come with some serious consequences: The New York and New Jersey attorneys general said on Wednesday they have <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/press-release\/2026\/attorney-general-james-and-attorney-general-davenport-subpoena-fifa-over-world\" target=\"_blank\">launched a probe<\/a> into FIFA over ticket practices. <\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s not just the ticket prices. New York Atty Gen. Letitia James and New Jersey Atty Gen. Jennifer Davenport are also looking at FIFA&#8217;s sales process, including the way it has allocated tickets to fans and whether the organization&#8217;s sales tactics have contributed to &#8220;soaring prices.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to know about how FIFA sells tickets \u2014 and why it has become such a flash point with just two weeks to go before the start of the tournament.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">FIFA&#8217;s prices draw condemnation<\/h3>\n<p>Ticket prices for this tournament aren&#8217;t just much higher than previous World Cups. For the first time, FIFA has introduced dynamic pricing, leading to sharply higher prices for many World Cup games.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5836514-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5660767\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5660767\/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-ticket-prices\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5660767\/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-ticket-prices\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3592x3592+806+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2F14%2F95ba5a9d4505816a1fef11768e42%2Fgettyimages-2249726595-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3592x3592+806+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2F14%2F95ba5a9d4505816a1fef11768e42%2Fgettyimages-2249726595-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3592x3592+806+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2F14%2F95ba5a9d4505816a1fef11768e42%2Fgettyimages-2249726595-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official match schedule announcement in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6, 2025.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/2026-world-cup-north-america\">2026 World Cup: North America <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5660767\/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-ticket-prices\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/29\/nx-s1-5660767\/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-ticket-prices\"}'>FIFA president defends World Cup ticket prices, saying demand is hitting records<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5836514-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>A clear example is for the final match, set to take place in New Jersey on July 19.  FIFA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/worldcup\/canadamexicousa2026\/articles\/one-week-to-go-before-first-phase-ticket-sales-open\" target=\"_blank\">initially sold<\/a> the most expensive tickets at $6,730 \u2014 already much higher than the about $1,600 price for the most expensive tickets for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/01\/nx-s1-5770564\/fifa-world-cup-ticket-prices\" target=\"_blank\">its latest sales windows<\/a> starting in April, the same category of tickets cost $10,990. <\/p>\n<p>The prices have sparked <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/07\/business\/trump-rips-1000-world-cup-ticket-prices-in-exclusive-post-interview-i-wouldnt-pay-it-either-to-be-honest\/\" target=\"_blank\">widespread outrage<\/a> \u2014 and drawn wide scrutiny on FIFA. Even President Trump, who has established a close relationship with Infantino, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/07\/business\/trump-rips-1000-world-cup-ticket-prices-in-exclusive-post-interview-i-wouldnt-pay-it-either-to-be-honest\/\" target=\"_blank\">told the <em>New York Post<\/em><\/a>he wouldn&#8217;t pay the roughly $1,000 for nosebleed seats for the U.S. opening game against Paraguay next month.<\/p>\n<p>Compounding the problem, FIFA back in April also unveiled an entirely new category of tickets called &#8220;Front Category&#8221; seats, offering front row seats across the stadium, that were priced even more expensively. <\/p>\n<p>A front row seat in the lower bowl for the final costs<a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/48707727\/fifa-triples-best-available-world-cup-final-ticket-33k\" target=\"_blank\"> more than $30,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">FIFA&#8217;s sales tactics also under scrutiny<\/h3>\n<p>One looming legal question is whether FIFA acted as a monopoly and unfairly used its status to sell tickets, attorneys and ticketing experts told NPR. <\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5836514-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5835318\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835318\/2026-world-cup-us-roster-usmnt\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835318\/2026-world-cup-us-roster-usmnt\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3694x3694+985+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2Fed%2Fbcfaef4e48d8b19366c75218bad8%2Fgettyimages-2278337327.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3694x3694+985+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2Fed%2Fbcfaef4e48d8b19366c75218bad8%2Fgettyimages-2278337327.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3694x3694+985+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2Fed%2Fbcfaef4e48d8b19366c75218bad8%2Fgettyimages-2278337327.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Players of the United States pose for a team photo on stage during the U.S. Soccer World Cup roster reveal on Tuesday in New York City.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/2026-world-cup-north-america\">2026 World Cup: North America <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835318\/2026-world-cup-us-roster-usmnt\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/26\/nx-s1-5835318\/2026-world-cup-us-roster-usmnt\"}'>A mix of veterans and newcomers will represent the United States at the World Cup<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5836514-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Derek Howard, an attorney who also teaches at the University of San Francisco, saidFIFA has closely guarded information about how it&#8217;s pricing tickets, how many tickets are left to sell and when it decides to adjust prices. That&#8217;s kept ticket buyers in the dark, and FIFA holding all the cards.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;FIFA has been using what we might call scare tactics to create a demand for a ticket and telling people that they have to pay the high prices because if they don&#8217;t, they&#8217;re going to miss out on this once in a lifetime event,&#8221; Howard says. &#8220;The problem behind that is that the consumers have no way of knowing whether or not that&#8217;s true.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-124579\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3657;--source-height: 2438\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3657x2438+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb2%2F99%2F6f2da44d45baa297529d81c1e0b5%2Fgettyimages-2250177246.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3657x2438+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb2%2F99%2F6f2da44d45baa297529d81c1e0b5%2Fgettyimages-2250177246.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Infantino poses with President Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Cup draw ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Infantino poses with President Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Cup draw ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images North America<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images North America<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Even in the current &#8220;last-minute sales&#8221; window, FIFA releases tickets across games at periodic times \u2014 while encouraging fans to act now. That means someone logging in any given day has no way to know if the tickets being offered are the last remaining or whether more will be available later and at what price.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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 \u2014 all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans,&#8221; Davenport said in her statement.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">FIFA has wide discretion in assigning seat locations<\/h3>\n<p>One of the big peculiarities of World Cup ticket sales is that fans are not able to pick a specific seat until much later in the process.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, fans may only pick between four broad ticket categories; later they are assigned specific seats by FIFA. That&#8217;s not typical in the U.S., where fans are accustomed to picking the seat they want at the time of purchase. <\/p>\n<p>Seating maps for most stadiums like <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalhub.fifa.com\/m\/6547f6ac676326c4\/original\/Stadium_Map_New_York_New_Jersey.png\" target=\"_blank\">the one in New Jersey<\/a> indicated that Category 1 tickets \u2014 or the most expensive ones \u2014 cover large parts of the lower bowl of a stadium. By glancing at those stadium maps, fans could assume they had a good shot at getting a prime sideline view. What FIFA doesn&#8217;t clearly spell out is that <a href=\"https:\/\/fifaworldcup26.hospitality.fifa.com\/us\/en\/choose-matches?src=home_hero_browse_matches\" target=\"_blank\">a number of those sideline seats<\/a> are reserved for premium tickets and other categories of ticket holders such as corporate sponsors. <\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s no way of knowing how many seats are left in any of the sections \u2014 and many fans who bought those expensive Category 1 tickets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7175652\/2026\/04\/08\/world-cup-tickets-fans-stadium-seating-map\/\" target=\"_blank\">have complained<\/a> they got stuck in less desirable seats, such as behind corners. <\/p>\n<p>This World Cup is not the first time FIFA has used this blind ticketing system, but it is the first time it&#8217;s charged such high prices, sparking outrage among fans who feel they&#8217;ve been overcharged.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">FIFA can also change seating charts<\/h3>\n<p>Like most sports, FIFA divvies up the stadium seating map into different categories with different prices. Lower sideline seats are more expensive than those in the high up, &#8220;nosebleed section,&#8221; for example. <\/p>\n<p>But FIFA reserves the right to adjust seating charts as it wants. That means, FIFA could increase the number of seats considered Category 1, so a fan who thought they were buying in a top-tier section could end up in a previously lower-category seat.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA has traditionally sold tickets this way. But James took issue with that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; she said in the statement announcing the probe.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5836514-103\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5795791\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/09\/nx-s1-5795791\/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/09\/nx-s1-5795791\/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1971x1971+515+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F44%2F98%2Fb72ac1244a78880bc2f0e29a2dec%2Fap319978140860.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1971x1971+515+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F44%2F98%2Fb72ac1244a78880bc2f0e29a2dec%2Fap319978140860.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1971x1971+515+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F44%2F98%2Fb72ac1244a78880bc2f0e29a2dec%2Fap319978140860.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"This photo shows a broad view of soccer fans packing the inside of the Rose Bowl prior to the World Cup final on July 17, 1994. Trees, including palm trees, rise up behind the stadium.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/2026-world-cup-north-america\">2026 World Cup: North America <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/09\/nx-s1-5795791\/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/09\/nx-s1-5795791\/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans\"}'>Soccer was once considered niche in the U.S. Then came the 1994 World Cup<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5836514-103\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>FIFA <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalhub.fifa.com\/m\/c3856874964e176\/original\/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Ticketing-Terms-of-Use.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">does state<\/a> that &#8220;visual representations of Ticket Categories on the Ticketing Website, such as Stadium maps and illustrations, are for guidance purposes only and may not reflect the actual layout and boundaries of a particular Stadium.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>But Howard says that doesn&#8217;t give FIFA complete immunity from legal action. He said shifting categories after a fan has bought a ticket could be considered a &#8220;bait and switch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">So what now? <\/h3>\n<p>FIFA had not replied to an NPR request for comment by the time of publication.<\/p>\n<p>But with the start of the World Cup only two weeks away, legal experts concede it would be hard \u2014 if not impossible \u2014 for FIFA to revamp its sales processes before the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>But FIFA could be liable in the U.S. long after the World Cup ends in mid-July, they say. <\/p>\n<p>FIFA could face class action lawsuits from aggrieved fans. Several <a href=\"https:\/\/newjerseyglobe.com\/congress\/pallone-pou-warn-of-fifas-potentially-deceptive-ticket-pricing-practices\/\" target=\"_blank\">Democratic lawmakers<\/a> have also written to FIFA seeking answers about its ticket practices. And other attorneys general could probe FIFA. California Atty Gen. Rob Bonta <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/press-release\/2026\/attorney-general-james-and-attorney-general-davenport-subpoena-fifa-over-world\" target=\"_blank\">said last month<\/a> the state <a href=\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/attachments\/press-docs\/Letter%20to%20FIFA_.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">sent a letter<\/a> to FIFA &#8220;raising concerns about reports of potentially misleading ticketing practices.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>FIFA continues to justify its ticket prices saying it is adapting to the American market. That&#8217;s been lucrative for FIFA. Infantino said the World Cup could earn it more than $11 billion, including  broadcast deals. <\/p>\n<p>But those FIFA ticket prices have sparked outrage among fans \u2014 and a potential legal mess. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/245994525\/fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/1105563138\/2026-world-cup\">2026 World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"TAGS\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStorynx-s1-5836514\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5836514\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storynx-s1-5836514\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5836514\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"nx-s1-5836514\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. PLUS, THE BEST OF NPR EVERY SUNDAY.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STICKYDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR THE NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES AND UNIQUE STORIES FROM THE NPR NETWORK.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;CONTENTIMAGE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/NPR.BRIGHTSPOTCDN.COM\/E1\/16\/E7434747460F8691603795B6FF1C\/SCREEN-SHOT-2025-08-20-AT-1-47-26-PM.PNG&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STATICMARKUPDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BUCKETS\/TOPICS\/HEADER1001.HTML&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BRANDING\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGLINK&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/WWW.NPR.ORG\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;RECAPTCHASITEKEY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;6LCDN9IZAAAAAOHT985BJJBZJKBJKSXDXK3GEKST&amp;QUOT;}\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\" class=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\">\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES RECOMMENDED-STORIES-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FIFA&#8217;s World Cup ticket sales outraged fans. Now they are under investigation May 28, 20261:48 PM ET By\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}