FIFA chief Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices
Summary
FIFA president Gianni Infantino explained that the high prices of 2026 World Cup tickets are due to market conditions in the United States and allowed ticket resales. Despite criticism and legal complaints, FIFA says many tickets are still sold at lower prices and the demand for tickets has greatly increased compared to previous World Cups.Key Facts
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices as reflecting supply and demand in the US market.
- Ticket resale laws in the US let tickets be resold for much more than face value, sometimes millions of dollars for final tickets.
- Fan group Football Supporters Europe criticized prices as too high and filed a lawsuit with the European Commission against FIFA.
- The most expensive 2026 final ticket face value is about $11,000, compared to about $1,600 for the 2022 final.
- FIFA said it received over 500 million ticket requests for 2026, much higher than for 2018 and 2022 combined.
- About 25% of group phase tickets are priced under $300, which Infantino said is comparable to prices for US college or pro sports events.
- Some tickets remain unsold for early games, including USA’s opener vs. Paraguay, with prices ranging from $1,120 up to $6,050 for premium seats.
- FIFA still offers tickets through “last-minute sales” on its official website.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.