Procuradoria-General of Califórnia sent a formal letter to FIFA this Wednesday to obtain details regarding Copa’s ticket sales for Mundo 2026. Attorney-General Rob Bonta wants to assess whether there were violations of the state’s consumer protection laws. The action follows reports of fans who purchased tickets in premium categories and received seats in lower areas.
Games on Califórnia are planned for the SoFi Stadium, in the Los Angeles region, and the Levi’s Stadium, in the Baía of São Francisco. The letter asks for specific information about stadium maps displayed during sales and subsequent changes to seating categories. Bonta highlighted that Californians deserve transparency when purchasing tickets for events in the state.
Carta asks for data on maps and category changes
The document sent to FIFA’s legal division lists six main points. Entre they are sending copies of the seat maps shown to buyers since October 2025. The prosecutor’s office also wants to know how many fans received seats in a category lower than that indicated at the time of purchase.
- Cópias of stadium maps used in sales
- Datas in which each version was shown to buyers
- Número of fans who had a category demoted
- FIFA’s Esforços to relocate these buyers
- Divulgação of possible changes in categories
- Medidas reimbursement or compensation adopted
The letter sets a deadline of May 29 for a response. Bonta cited Califórnia laws that prohibit deceptive marketing practices. Ele mentioned that fine print terms do not justify representations that a reasonable consumer would not understand.
Relatos of fans motivate action
Recent Reportagens pointed out that FIFA sold tickets in categories based on stadium maps. Depois, changed the ratings before assigning specific seats. Alguns Tipo 1 ticket buyers reported being placed in sectors originally listed as inferior. The prosecutor’s office wants to confirm whether this occurred in the Californian games.
SoFi’s Stadium and Levi’s Stadium will host Copa matches, which begin on June 11. The investigation does not prevent the games from taking place, but may lead to demands for corrections or fines if there are irregularities.
Preços highs increase dissatisfaction among fans
Copa 2026 tickets have had high prices since the beginning. The most expensive category for the final reached unprecedented levels, with official options exceeding US$30,000 in some lots. Torcedores from several countries complained about the costs and transparency in the allocation process.
In the letter, Bonta acknowledged the enthusiasm for Copa, but reinforced the need for trust in the purchasing process. Ele himself played football in college and has family in the sport. The prosecutor’s office advises anyone who feels harmed to file a complaint on the official website.
FIFA has not yet publicly commented
Até At the moment, the entity has not released a response to the letter. The investigation is in its early stages and focuses only on games on Califórnia. Outros host states are following the case, but for now there are no similar actions announced.
Copa 2026 will be the first with 48 teams and venues in three countries. Califórnia plays an important role in the organization, with modern stadiums and a large potential audience. Qualquer development of the investigation may influence fans’ perception of the event.
