FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, stating they are consistent with market demand.
According to the media reports, football’s global governing body is facing growing criticism over pricing, with fan groups accusing FIFA of fraud and the exploitation of supporters.
The controversy has intensified as debate continues over the affordability and accessibility of tickets for the upcoming tournament.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said that the United States is the largest entertainment market in the world, so prices had to be set according to local conditions. He revealed that FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket requests, which is ten times more than for the previous World Cup.
Commenting on reports that a ticket for the World Cup final has reached $2 million on the resale market, he joked that if someone actually buys a ticket for that amount, he would personally offer them a hot dog and a cold drink to make their experience memorable.
It should be noted that the most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar cost $1,600, whereas the price for the 2026 final has increased to $11,000.
The FIFA president also said that 25% of group-stage tickets are priced below $300, which he claims is cheaper than tickets for many typical college matches in the United States. He argued that if FIFA kept prices low, tickets would be resold on the black market at much higher prices, benefiting intermediaries rather than the organisation itself.
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