A North Vancouver soccer fan says FIFA should be more transparent about where fans could end up sitting after he paid nearly $1,000 for a World Cup ticket — for what turns out to be an obstructed view.
As a long time fan of the game, Payam Sabzmeydani says he bought three Category 1 tickets for the Canada-Switzerland match on June 24 at B.C. Place.
He says he expected the ticket, which was marketed as the highest-priced category, to come with a strong, commanding view of the field.
But when FIFA later released his seat assignment, Sabzmeydani says he was placed “directly behind the goal.”
“We go to Whitecaps games, I know the layout of the stadium,” he said. “It’s right behind the goals.”
Sabzmeydani says similar seats are usually among the lower-priced lower-bowl seats for Vancouver Whitecaps games.
While buying World Cup ticket, fans are not able to pick a specific seat until much later in the process.
Initially, fans like Sabzmeydani can only pick between four broad ticket categories and are later assigned specific seats by FIFA.
That’s not typical when buying tickets for local games at the stadium, says Sabzmeydani.
“For Whitecaps, it’s very, very transparent,” he said. “I know what I’m signing up for.”
Sabzmeydani’s concerns come as attorneys general in New York and New Jersey have subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup.
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In a joint statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said they are looking into reports that fans may have been misled about seat locations and faced soaring prices.
They say some fans reported buying Category 1 tickets, only to later be assigned seats farther back or in less desirable areas.
“The attorneys general will also investigate FIFA’s ticket prices for 2026 World Cup matches,” the statement read.
In an email earlier this week to CBC News, a FIFA spokesperson defended its ticket pricing, stating that it slashed prices on some tickets for each participating country in December.
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It also referred to comments made by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April, where he noted the demand for World Cup 2026 tickets was ten times the amount of the last two World Cups together.
In a statement, B.C.’s Ministry of Attorney General said people should feel confident when buying event tickets in the province.
The ministry said B.C.’s Ticket Sales Act requires ticket sellers to clearly disclose the total price, fees, taxes, currency, terms and conditions, and seat location before a ticket is purchased, the ministry said.
“While the Act addresses all the issues New York and New Jersey are investigating, we will continue to monitor the investigation as we are always interested in exploring what other jurisdictions are doing to improve services for consumers,” the statement read.
The province says that if a consumer believes the ticket seller has violated B.C.’s ticket sales laws, they should contact Consumer Protection B.C.
FIFA has faced criticism over the prices it set for this World Cup since tickets were first released late last year.
In December, the backlash led FIFA to promptly slash prices on some tickets for each participating country.
Some resale tickets to Vancouver and Toronto matches have gone for tens of thousands of dollars. Last month, Ontario passed new law that bans people and platforms from reselling seats to events in the province for more than face value.
Sabzmeydani says he still plans to go to the match with his family but he says FIFA’s ticketing prices have priced many fans.
“It’s supposed to be the most accessible sport for everyone,” he said.
