TEXAS – The Texas Attorney General’s Office said on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, it had opened an investigation into the practice of selling tickets for the 2026 World Cup following complaints that fans were misled about seating locations for matches to be played in Dallas and Houston.
Attorney General Ken Paxton said fans were misled about the location of the seats they bought, which could constitute a violation of Texas consumer protection laws.
In a press release, Paxton said his office received a report from a fan who purchased a Category 1 seat, expecting a premium view of the field.
However, FIFA later adjusted the seating map to Category 2 and lower tier zones.
“I will work to ensure that FIFA engages in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly.”
“Sport has a unique power to bring people together. FIFA must understand that Texans take their competitions – and their consumer rights – seriously,” Paxton said in a press release.
Similar investigations are underway in California and New York regarding FIFA’s ticket sales policy.
Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter to FIFA asking for information about ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup matches in California, including how seating categories were marketed and how seats were allocated.
The matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, and Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara.
Meanwhile, in New York and New Jersey, state prosecutors issued a subpoena to FIFA regarding high ticket prices.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a press release last month that their offices were seeking internal information on how FIFA sold tickets for eight 2026 World Cup matches scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19, 2026.
“New Yorkers have waited years for the 2026 World Cup to come to their region. They deserve a fair chance to get affordable tickets.”
“No one should be manipulated into paying exorbitant ticket prices and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they buy will be the tickets they receive,” James said in a statement.
Furthermore, according to the Attorney General, the FIFA ticket price is far higher than the price for the previous World Cup tournament.
FIFA has so far not provided clarification. This is the first World Cup where FIFA uses dynamic pricing, adjusting ticket prices based on demand, and fan complaints about high ticket prices have dominated headlines.
A fan organization accused FIFA of a major betrayal of the World Cup tradition in December 2025.
The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey cited news reports that found FIFA raised ticket prices for most of the 104 2026 World Cup matches between October 2025 and April 2026, with prices for the three main ticket categories rising an average of 34 percent.
Tickets for the final, which will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York, cost an average of $11,790, according to the website SeatPick.com.
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