Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), today defended the pricing policy of tickets for the 2026 World Cup, considering that the prices presented respond to global market mechanisms and the unprecedented historic demand for this edition.
Infantino explained that FIFA finds itself compelled to adapt to laws in the United States that legalize ticket reselling, and that setting very low prices would open the door for speculators to make exorbitant profits in the black market, which is already happening.
In response to harsh criticisms from fan organizations, which described the prices as unrealistic, Infantino downplayed reports that claimed the price of the final ticket in New York reached two million dollars.
He pointed out that these figures reflect the ambitions of sellers on resale platforms and do not necessarily represent the official price or the price actually paid by the fan, adding with a touch of humor that he is ready to host anyone who pays this amount with a free meal to ensure their satisfaction with the experience.
Despite the wide gap between the prices of the upcoming edition and the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where the highest category prices jumped from $1,600 to about $11,000, the FIFA president emphasized the logic behind this increase considering the volume of demand.
With over half a billion ticket purchase requests received for the 2026 World Cup, Infantino sees the comparison favoring the tournament, especially since a quarter of the group stage tickets are available at a price less than $300, an amount he considers very competitive even compared to college tournament matches within America.
