For confidential legal guidance in your divorce, request an attorney consultation today.TL;DR: World Cup Tickets, Season Passes & Divorce
High-value sports tickets — including 2026 World Cup tickets — are usually considered joint marital property if they were purchased during the marriage. In a New Jersey divorce, all marital assets must be disclosed, assigned a fair value, and either divided, sold, or offset with another asset. If one spouse wants to keep the tickets, they may need to buy out the other spouse’s share. If expensive tickets or passes were purchased and the spouse did not disclose in financial statements, the tickets become hidden assets that will carry serious legal consequences when revealed. Take wise steps when it comes to this asset; you don’t want a “red card” in your divorce.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to New Jersey, where eight matches in the international football (soccer) tournament will be hosted, including the final at MetLife Stadium. Ticket prices for the event are climbing at an astonishing pace, with some resale listings for the final already exceeding $38,000 per seat. For New Jersey soccer fans, securing a ticket to this global sporting event in their own backyard may feel like a dream come true.
But what happens when that dream collides with a divorce?
If one spouse is holding a high-value World Cup ticket when a couple splits, is it considered a personal purchase, or is it actually a marital asset that must be disclosed and divided?
Here’s what New Jersey law has to say.
High-Value Tickets and Season Passes: Are They Marital Property?
Under New Jersey’s equitable distribution laws, almost all assets acquired during the marriage are presumed to be marital property, regardless of who uses them or whose name appears on the account or receipt. This often surprises people, because items like tickets or season passes may not look like traditional “assets.”
But they can be — and they may hold significant monetary value.
This asset class includes:
- Individual event tickets
- Season tickets or season passes to professional sports teams
- Premium seat licenses (PSLs)
- Memberships with resale value (e.g., club-level seating packages)
- Sports memorabilia collectibles
Even if only one spouse attends the games, items purchased with marital funds typically remain joint property unless they fall under a narrow set of exceptions (such as inheritance or items protected by a prenuptial agreement).
How Are High-Value Tickets Divided in a Divorce?
When an item fluctuates dramatically in value — like World Cup tickets whose prices soar with demand — determining how to divide it requires a few key steps.
1. The Ticket or Pass Must Be Disclosed
Full financial disclosure is mandatory in a New Jersey divorce. Any high-value ticket must be listed along with other assets. Because these items can be resold for significant sums, courts will treat them seriously.
2. A Valuation Date Must Be Agreed Upon
Because market value changes quickly, spouses typically agree to a specific valuation date, such as:
- The date the divorce was filed
- A date set during negotiations
- A date ordered by the court
- This provides a fair baseline for determining the asset’s worth.
3. The Spouses Must Decide How the Asset Will Be Distributed
Once the value is clear, there are usually two main options:
Option A: One Spouse Keeps the Ticket or Pass
If you’re determined to attend the World Cup final, you may do so, but you will typically need to buy out your spouse’s equitable share, or trade another comparably valued asset (e.g., “I keep the tickets, you keep the car”). New Jersey’s goal is fairness, not necessarily a 50/50 split, but every asset must be accounted for.
Option B: Sell the Ticket(s) and Split the Proceeds
This is common when neither spouse can justify keeping the asset (or desires to keep the asset) or when the resale value is too high to ignore.
For example:
- A pair of World Cup final tickets sold for $70,000
- Net proceeds are added to the marital pool
- Funds are divided under equitable distribution principles
- This is similar to how courts handle the sale of a house, vehicle, or investment account during a divorce.
Hidden Assets: A Potential Problem Area
Because tickets and passes often show up as digital purchases, they can be easy to overlook — or intentionally hide. If you did not know your spouse bought expensive tickets or a season pass, you may not realize a valuable hidden asset exists.
Be sure to review:
- Credit card statements
- Bank account transactions
- Crypto accounts
- Email receipts or ticket confirmations
- Purchases labeled from FIFA, Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, StubHub, or team websites
- Failing to disclose assets can result in serious legal consequences, including monetary penalties or a larger share of assets awarded to the other spouse.
Whether it’s a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final or a season pass to your favorite sports team, if it was purchased during the marriage, it likely counts as marital property. These items must be disclosed, valued, and addressed just like any other high-value asset — because in divorce, you can’t keep assets off the field.
Safeguarding Your Future in High-Value Asset Divorce Matters
If you’re dealing with a divorce that involves high-value or unusual assets, such as World Cup tickets or even a luxury handbag or Rolex watch, it’s normal to feel uncertain about what actually “counts” as a marital asset and how best to proceed. Any decision you make can have lasting consequences for your stability, your settlement, and your peace of mind.
At Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, we focus exclusively on family law in New Jersey, helping clients navigate complex divorce matters with clarity, discretion, and compassion. Our team includes several Certified Matrimonial Attorneys, bringing deep experience to cases involving detailed financial disclosure and asset division.
Our approach emphasizes:
- Thorough identification and documentation of all marital assets, including high-value and non-traditional property.
- Strategic valuation of assets that fluctuate in market value.
- Clear, practical guidance to help protect your financial interests.
- Calm, informed negotiation aimed at fair and equitable outcomes.
With the right guidance, you can move forward with more confidence and control.
If you’re facing a divorce involving high-value assets — or think they may be part of your situation — we can help you understand your options and next steps.
Request Your Consultation Today.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
High-Value Assets, Tickets & Divorce FAQs
What types of high-value items are considered marital property in New Jersey?
Most assets acquired during the marriage are generally presumed to be marital property, regardless of who uses them or whose name appears on the account. This includes not only real estate and financial accounts, but also high-value personal items such as event tickets, season passes, luxury goods, collectibles, and memberships with resale value.
Do high-value assets have to be physical to count as marital property?
No. Assets do not need to be tangible to be considered marital property. Intangible items — such as digital tickets, premium seat licenses (PSLs), club memberships, or other rights with market value — may still be subject to equitable distribution if they were acquired during the marriage.
How does the court determine whether a high-value item must be divided?
Courts look at when the asset was acquired, how it was paid for, and whether it can be assigned a clear monetary value. If the item was purchased during the marriage using marital funds and has measurable value, it will typically be included in the marital estate.
How are high-value assets handled when their value fluctuates?
For assets with changing market value — such as event tickets, collectibles, or certain investments — spouses usually agree on a valuation date, or the date the divorce was filed can be used. This creates a fair snapshot of value so the asset can be addressed consistently in the distribution process.
Can one spouse keep a high-value asset instead of selling it?
Yes. One spouse may keep a high-value asset, but its value must be accounted for in the overall division. This often involves buying out the other spouse’s equitable share or trading another asset of comparable value. New Jersey courts focus on fairness rather than an automatic 50/50 split.
What happens if a high-value asset is sold during the divorce?
If a high-value asset is sold, the proceeds become part of the marital estate. The funds are added to the overall pool of assets and divided according to New Jersey’s equitable distribution principles, similar to the sale of a home or investment account.
What if a spouse fails to disclose high-value purchases or assets?
All assets must be fully disclosed in a New Jersey divorce. If a spouse hides or fails to disclose high-value items — such as tickets, luxury purchases, or collectibles — the court may impose penalties or award a greater share of assets to the other spouse. Reviewing financial records can help uncover undisclosed property.