FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the high prices of World Cup tickets, citing U.S. laws that allow ticket reselling at much higher rates. Recently, FIFA faced intense criticism over these prices. The fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) even filed a lawsuit against FIFA, labeling the pricing as “extortionate.”
Last week, FIFA’s resale site listed tickets for the World Cup final at a staggering $2.3 million each. FIFA doesn’t set these resale prices but does take a hefty 15% fee from both buyers and sellers, meaning they’d earn $690,000 on a ticket sold at that price.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino argued that these prices reflect the demand for the World Cup. “Just because a ticket is listed for $2 million doesn’t mean it costs that much or that anyone will pay it,” he stated. He promised he’d deliver a hotdog and Coke personally to anyone who buys such an expensive ticket.
Fans have pointed out a notable increase in ticket prices compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Back then, the most expensive ticket was around $1,600. For the upcoming 2026 finals, that price jumps to about $11,000.
Infantino insists that this price surge is reasonable. “We are in a market where entertainment is highly valued,” he said. In the U.S., it’s normal for top-tier sports tickets to start around $300. He supported this claim with data showing FIFA received over 500 million requests for tickets to the 2026 World Cup, compared to just 50 million total for the 2018 and 2022 events.
Interestingly, 25% of tickets for the group stage will be priced below $300. Infantino noted that even minor league games in the U.S. would cost similar amounts.
This situation echoes broader trends in sports ticket pricing globally. A recent survey showed that 62% of fans believe ticket prices for major sporting events have risen too high. As fans take to social media to express their frustration, many call for greater transparency and fairness in pricing.
In summary, while demand for World Cup tickets is undeniably high, the backlash over pricing raises critical questions about affordability and access in sports.
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