Donald Trump has publicly criticized FIFA's ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, contradicting FIFA President Gianni Infantino's defense of the costs. The high prices have sparked ongoing criticism regarding affordability for fans in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
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Photo by Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
FIFA continues facing criticism because of the expensive ticket prices attached to the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Their president, Gianni Infantino, repeatedly defended the organisation in recent months and insisted the prices reflect demand, market conditions and the tournamentâs global financial importance.
He even downplayed complaints surrounding affordability, although his ally Donald Trump has now appeared to publicly disagree with him regarding the costs fans are facing.
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Trump recently reacted to the ticket prices attached to the United States menâs national team opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on 12 June.
According to The Athletic, the cheapest available ticket for the fixture currently costs $1,120 on the market.
When informed about that figure during an interview with the New York Post, Trump admitted he had not realised how expensive attending the game would actually become for supporters.
âI did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldnât pay it either, to be honest with you,â the United States president stated.
Donald Trump criticized the high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, suggesting they are too expensive for fans.
Gianni Infantino has defended FIFA's ticket prices by stating they reflect demand, market conditions, and the tournament's financial importance.
The ticket prices are controversial because many fans find them unaffordable, leading to criticism of FIFA's pricing strategy.
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Those remarks may create an uncomfortable situation for FIFA because Infantino consistently defended the organisationâs pricing structure despite growing backlash from soccer supporters around the world.
The FIFA president argued that resale policies in the United States contribute heavily towards inflated secondary market prices rather than the original face value established by the governing body.
Infantino also repeatedly claimed that the World Cup remains FIFAâs only major revenue source during each four-year cycle, making tournament profits essential for soccer development projects globally.
According to the Italian lawyer, revenue generated through competitions like the World Cup helps FIFA support soccer infrastructure and sporting investment across more than 100 countries worldwide.
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