FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that soccer’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value.
FIFA has faced fierce criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) labeling the pricing structure as “excessive” and “monumental betrayal”.
FSE filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March against FIFA for “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament.
FIFA’s own World Cup resale website, FIFA Marketplace, last week advertised four tickets for the July 19 final in New York for more than $2 million each.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said the eye-popping awards reflected the demand to watch the World Cup.
“If some people are offering final tickets on the resale market for $2 million, number one, that doesn’t mean the tickets cost $2 million,” Infantino said.
“And number two, it doesn’t mean anyone is going to buy these tickets,” Infantino said. “And if someone buys a ticket to the finals for $2 million, I will personally bring them a hot dog and a Coke to make sure they have a great experience.”
Fan groups have compared the difference in ticket prices for this summer with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The most expensive ticket for the 2022 final cost about $1,600 at first glance, while in 2026 the most expensive ticket for the final cost about $11,000 at the original price.
Infantino was convinced that the sharp increase in nominal prices was justified.
«We have to look at the market – we are in the market where entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates,» Infantino said.
«In the US, it is also allowed to resell tickets. So if you sell tickets at too low a price, those tickets will be resold at a much higher price. And even though some people say the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double our price.»
Infantino said FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared to less than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The FIFA leader added that 25 percent of group stage tickets cost less than $300.
“You can’t go to see a college game in the U.S., not to mention a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”
Published on May 6, 2026
