FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended the organization's World Cup ticket pricing policies, asserting that the global football governing body is obliged to operate within U.S. laws that permit tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value. Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino addressed mounting criticism over the cost of attending the 2026 World Cup.
Resale Market Draws Fire
FIFA's own resale platform, FIFA Marketplace, recently listed four tickets to the July 19 final in New York at more than US$2 million each. The eye-popping figures have sparked outrage among fan groups, with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal." FSE has filed a lawsuit with the European Commission, targeting FIFA over what it calls excessive ticket prices for the tournament.
Infantino's Defense
Infantino argued that the high resale prices reflect market demand rather than FIFA's official pricing. "If some people put on the resale market some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one, it doesn't mean that the tickets cost $2 million," he said. "And number two, it doesn't mean that somebody will buy these tickets." He added with a touch of humor: "If somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million, I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience."
Price Comparison with Previous World Cups
Fan groups have highlighted the stark contrast between ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup and the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The most expensive face-value ticket for the 2022 final was around $1,600, whereas for 2026, the top-tier final ticket costs approximately $11,000. Infantino justified the steep increase by pointing to market conditions. "We have to look at the market — we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates," he explained.
U.S. Resale Laws
Infantino also noted that U.S. laws permit ticket resale, which influences FIFA's pricing strategy. "In the U.S., it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at a price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price," he said. He added that even though some criticize FIFA's prices, tickets still appear on the resale market at more than double the original cost.
Record Demand
Infantino revealed that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. He emphasized that 25% of group-stage tickets are priced under $300. "You cannot go to watch, in the U.S., a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300," he said. "And this is the World Cup."
