FIFA Chief Infantino Defends Pricing and Ticket Costs for World Cup 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup in North America during a Q&A session at Semafor’s annual world economy summit in New York on Friday.

Infantino stated that FIFA is the organization’s sole source of income every four years, generating billions of dollars from the event. He also emphasized that FIFA is a nonprofit organization with 211 member nations, and all revenue generated is invested in the organization to support football development in those countries.

According to Infantino, three-quarters of FIFA’s member countries rely on grants provided by the organization to organize football. The president aims to strike a balance between generating revenue for the World Cup and supporting its member nations.

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have been a subject of controversy, with secondary-market ticket sites such as StubHub listing expensive tickets. For example, a single ticket in the lower bowl of the Los Angeles venue was priced at $14,000 per seat, while a ticket in the upper deck for the World Cup final in the New York area was listed at $8,860.

Infantino attributed high ticket prices to North America being a “very special market” and stated that he has been living in the United States for two to three years to better understand the market. The 2026 World Cup will feature a record 48 teams playing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 104 matches scheduled.

FIFA introduced a $60 option for tickets at some venues as part of an effort to address initial complaints about ticket prices and availability.

Source: Al Jazeera