FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the rising cost of World Cup tickets, citing strong global demand and resale regulations in the United States as key factors behind the surge.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Infantino said football’s governing body has little option but to align ticket prices with prevailing market conditions.
The pricing controversy intensified after Football Supporters Europe criticised the structure as excessive and filed a complaint with the European Commission over what it described as inflated costs. Reports indicated that resale listings for four tickets to the July 19 final in New York exceeded $2 million each.
Infantino dismissed the criticism, clarifying that resale prices do not reflect official ticket costs and do not guarantee buyers at those levels. He added humorously that he would personally ensure any fan paying such an amount enjoys the experience.
Supporters’ groups have pointed to a sharp increase compared to previous tournaments, noting that the most expensive ticket for the 2022 final was around $1,600, while top-tier tickets for the 2026 final are expected to reach about $11,000 at face value.
Infantino argued that the increase reflects the scale of the U.S. entertainment market and unprecedented demand, revealing that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 tournament—far higher than the combined total for 2018 and 2022 editions.
He also highlighted that a significant portion of group-stage tickets would remain relatively affordable, with about 25 percent priced below $300.
According to Infantino, resale laws in the U.S. further influence pricing, as lower initial prices could lead to widespread reselling at much higher rates.