Trending Now - World Cup Ticket Prices Under Fire Amid U.S. Sports Comparisons
WHO:
Fox News - Gianni Infantino, FIFA president
The Guardian - Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a fan organization
WHAT:
Fox News - Infantino stated that the cheapest remaining group-stage tickets were priced at $380 as of May 1.
The Guardian - Infantino claimed that FIFA's World Cup resale website advertised four tickets to the final at a cost of $2.3 million each.
The Guardian - Infantino mentioned that FIFA would make $690,000 if one of the tickets for the final sold at $2.3 million on resale.
Fox News - The most expensive ticket for the opening match (Austria vs. Jordan) is around $175, while the most expensive ticket for Brazil vs. Morocco is over $1,200.
Fox News - Infantino stated that 25% of group-stage World Cup tickets are priced below $300.
The Guardian - Infantino claimed that FIFA received in excess of 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The Guardian - The most expensive ticket for the 2026 World Cup final is about $11,000 at its original price, compared to about $1,600 for the 2022 final.
Fox News - Infantino defended FIFA’s World Cup ticket prices, claiming they are comparable to U.S. sports prices.
Fox News - The get-in price for the USA vs. Paraguay match on June 12 is over $1,000.
The Guardian - FIFA's World Cup resale website advertised tickets to the final at a cost of $2.3 million each.
The Guardian - FIFA takes a 15% purchase fee from buyers and a 15% resale fee from sellers on its resale platform.
The Guardian - The most expensive ticket for the 2026 World Cup final is about $11,000 at its original price.
The Guardian - Infantino stated that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup.
WHERE:
Fox News - Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles
The Guardian - FIFA's World Cup resale website
WHEN:
The Guardian - Infantino made his comments during a conference this week.
The Guardian - FSE filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March targeting FIFA over ticket prices.
WHY:
The Guardian - Infantino justified high ticket prices by stating that FIFA must apply market rates in the U.S. because it is the most developed entertainment market in the world.
Fox News - Infantino argued that FIFA must respond to the American resale market and apply market rates.
The Guardian - Infantino justified high ticket prices by stating that the U.S. market allows for resale at significantly higher prices.
HOW:
The Guardian - Infantino explained that FIFA takes a 30% cut of any resale ticket sold on its official resale platform.
The Guardian - Infantino explained that FIFA does not control the asking prices on its resale site but benefits from resale fees.
(UPDATED May 7, 2026 04:12 UTC)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently revealed that the cheapest remaining group-stage tickets for the upcoming World Cup are priced at $380, while four tickets to the final are being advertised for a staggering $2.3 million each. He explained that if one of those final tickets sells at that price on the resale market, FIFA would earn $690,000 from the transaction. Infantino justified these high ticket prices by stating that FIFA must adhere to market rates in the U.S., which he described as the most developed entertainment market in the world.
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(UPDATED May 6, 2026 23:16 UTC)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that 25% of group-stage World Cup tickets for the upcoming tournament will be priced below $300, a move aimed at making the event more accessible. He also revealed that FIFA has received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, a staggering increase compared to fewer than 50 million requests for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments combined. Additionally, Infantino noted that the most expensive ticket for the 2026 World Cup final will be around $11,000, a significant jump from the approximately $1,600 price tag for the 2022 final, and emphasized that FIFA retains a 30% cut from any resale tickets sold on its official platform.
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(UPDATED May 6, 2026 21:21 UTC)
At a recent conference in Los Angeles, FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the high ticket prices for the World Cup, claiming they align with U.S. sports pricing, despite the get-in price for the upcoming USA vs. Paraguay match on June 12 exceeding $1,000. Infantino noted that FIFA's resale website advertised tickets to the final at a staggering $2.3 million each, with FIFA taking a 15% fee from both buyers and sellers on this platform. He also revealed that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup, justifying the prices by stating that the U.S. market allows for significant resale opportunities.