FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sparked controversy by defending the exorbitant ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, arguing that the governing body must align with US market rates where resale tickets can fetch thousands of dollars above face value. Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino insisted the pricing reflects demand, despite fierce criticism from fan groups.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has labelled the pricing structure as “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal,” filing a lawsuit with the European Commission in March over excessive ticket prices. The FIFA resale website recently listed four final tickets at $2.3 million each, with FIFA taking a 15% fee from both buyer and seller—potentially earning $690,000 from a single sale.
Infantino downplayed the eye-watering figures, stating that high resale prices do not mean tickets cost that much, and joked he would personally serve a hotdog and Coke to anyone paying $2 million for a final ticket. He compared the 2026 final face-value price of about $11,000 to the $1,600 top price for the 2022 Qatar final, arguing that US market rates justify the increase.
“We have to look at the market – we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world,” Infantino said. He noted that 25% of group-stage tickets are under $300, claiming that even college games in the US cost that much. However, tickets for New York Yankees games can be as low as $11, and NBA playoff seats start at $158, contradicting his claim.
Infantino also revealed that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared to fewer than 50 million for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments combined. He argued that low face-value prices would simply fuel resale at even higher prices, as US law permits resale.
