California AG demands FIFA answers on potentially illegal World Cup ticket policy

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has  sent a letter  to FIFA demanding answers over World Cup ticket practices he called "potentially misleading. " In the letter, Bonta requested a host of information from FIFA "to assess potential violations of California law. " Fans have taken umbrage with a number of FIFA's practices surrounding ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, which takes place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Bonta cited reporting from The Athletic that suggested FIFA misrepresented the location of tickets fans purchased in the fall and winter, before they knew exactly where their seats would be located. "My office is particularly concerned about recent reports that FIFA sold tickets by categories based on seating zones depicted on stadium maps but then changed those seat categorizations before assigning precise seat locations," Bonta said in his letter. Though FIFA has defended its policy by stating that seating maps were only to "provide guidance" rather than outline a specific seat location, Bonta said that may not be enough to avoid legal scrutiny.

"Businesses and organizations cannot defend such practices by relying upon fine print or terms disclosed elsewhere that a reasonable consumer would not have reviewed or understood," Bonta said in the letter. In another development that has sparked plenty of complaints, FIFA added a "front-row seat" category, a new classification that had been unannounced prior to the  opening of the last-minute sales phase on April 1. “Californians deserve transparency and fairness when purchasing tickets for any event held in our state,” Bonta said in a press release .

“The FIFA World Cup only comes once every four years — and as someone who played soccer in college and beyond, has a daughter and daughter-in-law who play professional soccer, and still has a deep passion for the sport — I understand the significance these matches hold for fans. "Californians should be able to trust that the seats they purchase match the representations made during the sales process. We look forward to receiving the requested information from FIFA as part of our ongoing review.