FIFA President Infantino Defends High Ticket Prices and Rejects Criticism

Pricing Structure and Secondary Market

The contrast between the official entry-level prices and the actual costs on the secondary market is enormous. According to industry reports, hospitality packages for the final in New Jersey are being offered on the secondary market for up to 600,000 euros. For individual final tickets, several million euros were reportedly being asked at times. According to the Mexican portal Mediotiempo, the 2026 World Cup is considered the most expensive in the history of the tournament.

The range is also evident in the lower price categories: Tickets for the group-stage matches between Haiti and Scotland started at 330 euros, and for the match between Ghana and Panama at 440 euros. Infantino justified the pricing structure by referring to the US market: "We are talking about the greatest power in the world, so naturally there are certain things that need to be taken into account."

Investigations in the USA

In parallel, FIFA and the World Cup organizers are facing official investigations in the USA. The Attorneys General of New Jersey, New York, and California have launched investigations into possible violations of consumer protection laws in connection with ticket allocation. The focus is on reports of misleading practices in the allocation of tickets. Infantino said he was following the investigations "very relaxed."

When asked whether he regretted awarding the World Cup to the USA in light of political tensions, the FIFA president answered curtly: "I regret nothing." Once again, he spoke positively about his relationship with US President Donald Trump. Without Trump's "engagement and involvement," Infantino said, "in my opinion, it would simply have been impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States." He was "very happy" about the "very good relationship."

Mood and Reactions Ahead of the Tournament

On the sidelines of the press conference, the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been denied entry into the host country, was also addressed. The US government justified the decision on security grounds. Infantino called the incident "obviously unfortunate," but pointed to the authorities' jurisdiction: "We always try to find solutions. But we must respect that we are not the kings of the world who decide over governments and the police."

Meanwhile, the mood in the host cities remains subdued. The Mexican newspaper Récord reported that "there is just one day to go until the start of the World Cup, but no general euphoria can be felt in any of the host cities." The Athletic, given the overall situation, spoke of a "tinderbox World Cup," from which there might be no turning back. The British newspaper The Independent chose even blunter words, criticizing Infantino's appearance as "Trumpian blather" marking a "chaotic start to the World Cup."

Infertino, who held parts of the press conference in English and parts in Spanish, also reaffirmed the aim of financing global football development with the tournament's revenues. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026. In view of the ongoing investigations, the criticism of the prices, and the political debates, the kickoff of the tournament is likely to remain in the media spotlight amid controversy.