FIFA president defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday defended ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup as unprecedented demand saw over six million tickets sold, telling reporters in Mexico City that lower costs would only fuel secondary market profiteering rather than benefit the sport's global development. Speaking at a news conference, Infantino announced that the governing body had surpassed the sales milestone ahead of the tournament kickoff across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the expanded 48-team format driving exceptional interest from across the football world.

"We sold until today over 6 million tickets," Infantino said, noting that the volume of requests received has been "absolutely incredible" as anticipation builds for the month-long competition. The football chief revealed that FIFA recently released an additional 130,000 tickets with prices starting at $60, a figure he argued remains competitive with major sporting events across North America while reflecting the unique scale of the quadrennial tournament.

Pricing strategy controversy

Addressing widespread criticism that escalating prices have placed attendance beyond the reach of traditional supporters, Infantino argued that artificially suppressing ticket values would create arbitrage opportunities for resellers operating legally within host nations. "If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone — which is perfectly legal in this country — in secondary markets at much, much, much higher prices," he said, adding that such dynamics would divert money toward "those who organized secondary market or black market activities and not to football."

Infantino stated that the pricing structure reflects local market conditions while ensuring the organization can maximize revenue for reinvestment into the sport. "The starting price (is) at $60," he said. "The market is what it is."

Revenue reinvestment defense

The FIFA president noted that the tournament represents a unique commercial opportunity that occurs only once every four years, generating the bulk of the organization's development funding for grassroots programs worldwide. "Every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football," Infantino stated, emphasizing that the World Cup effectively subsidizes the governing body's worldwide initiatives and member association support programs.

Infantino characterized attending the competition as a unique lifetime opportunity for supporters, suggesting that pricing must account for both the scale of the event and regional economic realities across the three host nations. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said, adding that organizers must account for "the local habits and the local customs" when setting rates for the 104-match tournament that will crown the global champion.