FIFA President defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices amid resale concerns

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pushed back against criticism over ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup, arguing that allowing resale in the United States leaves organizers with little choice but to set higher initial costs.

At a press conference on Monday, Infantino explained that setting prices too low would backfire in the U.S. market, where ticket resale is legal.

“If we sold tickets at a low price, they would simply be resold at much higher prices,” Infantino said. “Although some people think our prices are high, tickets are being sold on the market for much more than their original value.”

The 2026 tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the vast majority of matches taking place on U.S. soil. Infantino noted that a quarter of all group-stage tickets will be priced under $300—a figure he defended as reasonable by American standards.

“You can’t even attend a college football game in the U.S. for less than that,” he said. “And this is the World Cup!!”

The FIFA president also sought to address potential outrage over premium seating for the final, brushing off hypothetical extreme markups with a joke.

“If someone buys a final ticket for $2 million, I’ll personally serve them a hot dog and a Coca-Cola to make sure they have a great experience 😅🌭,” he said.

Infantino’s comments come as fans and consumer groups continue to voice concerns over accessibility and affordability for what is expected to be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 104 matches across 16 North American cities. FIFA has yet to release the full public pricing scale but has promised a tiered system aimed at local fans as well as international visitors.