FIFA president jokes he’ll serve hot dog and Coke to $2m World Cup ticket buyer

Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

FIFA has faced mounting criticism in recent months because of the prices attached to tickets for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Many supporters questioned whether ordinary football fans are gradually being pushed away from attending the biggest sporting tournament because of increasingly expensive ticket costs and resale values.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly defended the organisation’s pricing strategy and recently addressed the issue again while discussing the resale market surrounding the World Cup final.

Gianni Infantino says FIFA cannot control huge resale ticket prices

Photo by Harry Murphy – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

The Italian lawyer recently joked about the situation while discussing reports that some World Cup final tickets appeared on resale platforms for extraordinary amounts of money.

“If somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million dollars, I will personally bring a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience!” Infantino joked while addressing the controversy.

The FIFA president later clarified that the organisation should not be blamed for every resale listing associated with the tournament, especially considering ticket resale remains legal in the United States.

He also said (via BBC): “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.