Trump Says He ‘Wouldn’t Pay’ High World Cup Ticket Prices

Topline

President Donald Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview he “wouldn’t pay” the thousand-plus dollars being charged to attend the United States’ opening game at the World Cup next month, shortly after FIFA’s president defended the high cost.

Trump said he "wouldn't pay" the thousand-plus dollars World Cup tickets cost. (Photo by Jia Haocheng - Pool/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Trump told the New York Post in a Wednesday evening interview he “did not know” tickets for the United States’ opening World Cup match next month cost four figures, saying, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”

“If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed,” Trump said, adding, “I would have to take a look at it.”

Trump, though, touted the “extremely successful” World Cup ticket sales—FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously said more than 5 million tickets have been sold—claiming the organization is “setting every record in the book. They’ve never had anything like it.”

The U.S. team makes its 2026 World Cup debut on June 12 in Los Angeles against Paraguay, with most of the tickets for the match selling for above $1,000.

What Did Fifa Say About High Ticket Prices?

Hours before Trump spoke to the Post, Infantino defended the World Cup ticket prices while placing blame on the U.S. ticketing market. “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,” Infantino claimed, adding, “And this is the World Cup.” He said the American entertainment market is the “most developed in the world, so we have to apply market rates.” He blamed ticket resellers for charging exorbitant prices, saying, “In the U.S., it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.” Infantino is a noted Trump ally, often appearing at White House events. He awarded Trump the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” at the World Cup draw in December.

Chief Critics

The World Cup ticket prices have faced backlash, including from dozens of members of Congress, who accused FIFA of “price gouging” in a letter addressed to Infantino in March. The letter, led by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., urged FIFA to lower prices and accused the organization of prioritizing revenue over “accessibility for fans and host community residents.” Fan organization Football Supporters Europe previously criticized the high ticket prices as a “monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup” and filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of “exploiting its absolute monopoly over World Cup ticketing.”

Tangent

Ticket prices for NJ Transit commuters attending the World Cup matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium have also drawn scrutiny, with NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri saying Thursday round-trip ticket prices would be reduced from $150 to $105. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill previously called on FIFA to cover the costs of transportation, saying “hosting cannot come at the expense of New Jersey commuters and taxpayers.”

Further Reading

The Biggest U.S. Soccer Home Game in Decades Is Six Weeks Away—and Still Not Sold Out (Wall Street Journal)

Gianni Infantino says high World Cup ticket prices are justified in US market (The Guardian)

This article was originally published on Forbes.com