FIFA President Defends 2026 World Cup Ticket Prices

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization's pricing for the 2026 World Cup, saying the prices reflect U.S. market rates and resale laws that allow tickets to be sold for far more than face value.

Infantino noted that if tickets were priced too low, they would be resold at much higher prices under U.S. laws. He added that even the current face-value prices still appear on the resale market at more than double. The most expensive ticket for the final is listed at about $10,990, compared with roughly $1,600 for the 2022 final.

FIFA's official resale platform takes a 30 percent cut on transactions. Infantino said more than 500 million ticket requests have been received for the 48-team tournament, far exceeding the combined total for the 2018 and 2022 events.

Fan groups have criticized the prices as excessive. Football Supporters Europe called the pricing structure extortionate and filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March over what it described as excessive ticket prices. Infantino said 25 percent of group-stage tickets are priced under $300 and compared the cost to U.S. college and professional sports events.

U.S. host cities will receive $625 million in federal funding through FEMA for security at the 78 matches scheduled across the United States. The money covers police overtime, emergency response, and cybersecurity. A white paper prepared for the Hotel Association of New York City found that hotel bookings for the June 13 to July 19 period are running below expectations.

Nearly 80 percent of hoteliers in U.S. host cities reported that bookings are tracking below initial forecasts.