FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a pointed remark about British football supporters during his keynote speech at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. The football chief also mounted a robust defence of the premium ticket pricing structure for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which is set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A Historic First for British Fans
Addressing a gathering of global leaders and business elites, Infantino reflected on the perceived success of the previous tournament in Qatar. He noted there had been significant pre-tournament criticism but claimed that once the action began, incidents were virtually non-existent. “For the first time in history also, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special,” Infantino stated, framing the statistic as a notable achievement.
He used this observation to project confidence for the 2026 event, describing it as a future “celebration of humanity” where people would come together. This optimistic vision was presented despite ongoing concerns from human rights organisations regarding policies in the host nations, particularly under the current US administration.
Defending Premium World Cup Ticket Costs
The FIFA president then turned to the contentious issue of ticket prices, acknowledging the intense scrutiny he and the organisation have faced. “The tickets are not cheap. We were hammered. I was hammered, I should say, because of the ticket prices, because they are so expensive,” he admitted candidly.
Infantino revealed staggering demand figures, with over 500 million ticket requests submitted during the recent application window. He highlighted that the second-cheapest category for the final costs $4,185 (approximately £3,100), with only a minimal allocation available at the lowest $40 price point.
Key Points on Ticket Demand:- The United States leads global ticket requests.
- Germany and England follow as the second and third highest requesting nations.
- Infantino confidently predicted every match would be a sell-out.
He suggested that demand was so high it equated to “1,000 years of World Cups at once,” compared to the roughly 50 million tickets sold in the competition's entire century-long history. Infantino also noted that FIFA's official resale platform would likely see tickets change hands at even higher prices, which he cited as evidence of the tournament's immense appeal and public trust in the organisers.
Addressing Visa Concerns for Spectators
Concluding his address, the FIFA president sought to dismiss reports that fans from certain nations might face visa denials for entry into the United States. While spectators from countries like Haiti, Iran, and Senegal were thought to be particularly vulnerable to entry restrictions, Infantino firmly asserted, “The United States, about Canada and about Mexico will welcome the world next summer, and this is what we are looking forward to.”
His Davos speech ultimately served to promote the 2026 tournament as an unmissable global event, while simultaneously deflecting criticism on pricing and leveraging a light-hearted, if pointed, comment on the historical conduct of British football fans abroad.
