The Texas Attorney General’s Office announced on Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into FIFA’s ticket sales for the World Cup, following complaints that fans were misled about the locations of their seats for matches in Dallas and Houston.
Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that there are concerns about fans being “misled” about the seating arrangements they were purchasing, which could potentially violate Texas consumer protection laws.
According to a press release, the office received a report from a fan who purchased “Category 1” seats, anticipating premium viewing experience. However, FIFA later reclassified the seat maps, downgrading them to “Category 2” and a less desirable tier.
“I am committed to ensuring that FIFA engages in honest and ethical business practices, so Texas fans are treated fairly,” Paxton said in the release. “Sports have a unique ability to unite people, and FIFA must recognize that Texans take both competition and their consumer rights seriously.”
Investigations into FIFA’s ticket sales practices are also ongoing in California and New York.
Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter to FIFA seeking details about ticket sales for World Cup matches in California, particularly regarding the marketing of seating categories and the allocation of seats. Matches are set to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
In New York and New Jersey, state prosecutors issued subpoenas to FIFA concerning elevated ticket prices.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport expressed in a press release last month that their offices are requesting internal documentation about FIFA’s ticket distribution for eight World Cup matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19.
“New Yorkers have been eagerly anticipating the World Cup’s arrival, and they deserve a fair opportunity for reasonably priced tickets,” James stated. “No one ought to be coerced into paying exorbitant prices for tickets, and fans should have confidence that the tickets they buy are the ones they will receive.”
FIFA has not responded to ESPN’s request for comment.
According to the joint announcement from the attorneys general, FIFA’s ticket prices have “greatly exceeded those of any past World Cup tournament.”
This World Cup marks the first time FIFA has implemented dynamic pricing, adjusting costs based on demand, and complaints regarding the exorbitant ticket prices have been prevalent. A fan organization criticized FIFA in December, calling it “a monumental betrayal of the World Cup tradition.”
The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey referenced reports indicating that FIFA raised ticket prices for the majority of the 104 World Cup matches from October to April, with pricing for the top three ticket categories increasing by an average of 34%.
Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are now averaging $11,790, as reported by the website SeatPick.com.