MEXICO CITY — FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, saying demand for the tournament has reached unprecedented levels, with more than six million tickets already sold.
Speaking at a news conference in Mexico City, Infantino said interest in the tournament, being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has exceeded expectations.
“The demand has been unprecedented,” Infantino said. “The number of ticket requests we received has been absolutely incredible.”
FIFA has faced criticism from some supporters over the sharp rise in ticket prices compared with previous World Cups, particularly after the governing body introduced dynamic pricing for certain matches.
However, Infantino argued that demand has remained strong despite the higher costs and revealed that FIFA recently released an additional 130,000 tickets, with entry-level prices starting at $60.
“The starting price is at $60,” he said. “The market is what it is.”
Addressing concerns that ticket prices have placed the tournament beyond the reach of many fans, Infantino said lower prices could have fueled resale activity and pushed costs even higher on secondary markets.
“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone in secondary markets at much, much, much higher prices,” he said.
“Where would the money go then? To those who organized secondary market or black market activities and not to football.”
Revenue supports global football
Infantino said revenue generated by World Cup ticket sales helps fund football development programs around the world.
“Every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football,” he said. “We have one competition every four years that generates revenues.”
The FIFA president added that the World Cup remains a unique sporting experience and said ticket prices reflect both local market conditions and the scale of the tournament.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Infantino said. “When you are in a country, when you are in a part of the world, you need, of course, to deal with the local habits and the local customs.”
Growing debate over costs
The 2026 World Cup has seen a significant increase in ticket prices compared with recent editions, prompting debate among supporters over affordability.
The tournament, which kicked off this week across 16 host cities in North America, is the largest in FIFA history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
Despite criticism over pricing, FIFA says fan demand remains at record levels, with ticket sales continuing to rise as the tournament gets underway.
Source: Saudi Gazette