FIFA president Gianni Infantino: High World Cup Ticket Prices Reflect Demand, Not Greed

FIFA Chief Cites U.S. resale laws as World Cup ticket costs spark outrage | Image AFP

Football Supporters Europe has filed a complaint with the European Commission over “excessive” World Cup ticket prices, with FIFA Marketplace listing final seats at over $2 million.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino said the steep ticket prices are driven by demand for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S...

Gianni Infantino stood by FIFA’s World Cup ticket pricing on Tuesday, saying the organization is required to operate within U.S. regulations that permit resale markets where tickets can fetch several thousand dollars over face value.

The cost has sparked strong condemnation from fans, with Football Supporters Europe labeling the pricing “extortionate” and calling it a “monumental betrayal” of supporters.

Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint with the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of charging “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament.

FIFA’s official resale platform, FIFA Marketplace, recently listed four seats for the July 19 final in New York at over $2 million apiece, roughly £1.47 million each.

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Addressing the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said the steep prices simply reflect the high demand to see the World Cup in person.

“If some people put on the resale market, some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one it doesn't mean that the tickets cost $2 million,” Infantino said.

“And number two it doesn't mean that somebody will buy these tickets,” Infantino said. “And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience.”

Fan groups have pointed to a sharp contrast between ticket prices for this summer’s tournament and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The top face-value ticket for the 2022 final was roughly $1,600, compared to about $11,000 for the 2026 final at its original price.

Infantino maintained that the significant jump in face-value pricing is warranted.

“We have to look at the market - we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” Infantino said.

“In the US it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at a price that is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.

“And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double of our price.”

Infantino stated that FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 tournament, a sharp rise from the fewer than 50 million requests combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He also noted that 25 percent of group-stage tickets are priced below $300.

“You cannot go to watch a college game in the US, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”