FIFA President Defends "Market Rate" World Cup Ticket Prices
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hit back at critics regarding the "extortionate" cost of World Cup tickets, even joking that he would personally serve fans who pay millions for a seat. During an appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino addressed reports that tickets for the final in New Jersey have been listed for as much as $2.3 million on FIFA’s own resale platform.
“If some people put on the resale market some tickets for the final at $2m, number one, it doesn't mean that the tickets cost $2m, and number two, it doesn't mean that somebody will buy these tickets,” Infantino remarked. He added with a laugh, “And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2m, I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience.”
While fan organizations like Football Supporters Europe (FSE) have called the pricing a “monumental betrayal,” Infantino argued that FIFA is simply following the economic reality of the host nation. “We are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” he explained.
Infantino also noted that because reselling is legal in the U.S., pricing tickets too low would only allow scalpers to pocket the profit. He pointed out that despite the backlash, tickets often end up being resold at “more than double our price.”
To highlight affordability, the FIFA leader claimed that 25% of group stage tickets are priced under $300. He compared this to the American sporting landscape, stating, “You cannot go to watch in the US a college game... for less than $300. And this is the World Cup.”
Despite Infantino's comparisons, the financial burden on fans is significant. The most expensive face-value ticket for the 2026 final is roughly $11,000, which is a massive jump from the $1,600 top-tier seat prices at the Qatar World Cup in 2022. For an England supporter, attending just the group stage matches could cost an estimated £6,500 ($8,100) when factoring in travel and hotels on top of the ticket prices.
The pricing strategy may be impacting attendance. Seats for many group games, including the U.S. host nation’s opening match against Paraguay, have yet to sell out. For that match in Los Angeles, the remaining tickets range in price from $1,120 to over $6,000 for hospitality packages.
While most of the 16 host venues allow for uncapped resale prices, Toronto is a notable exception. Following the Ontario government’s Putting Fans First Act, FIFA was forced to update its platform so that matches at Toronto Stadium can only be resold at their original face value. Tickets at the other 15 venues, however, can still be listed for whatever the market, or a hungry hot-dog-delivering president, will bear.
