World Cup 2026: FIFA chief Infantino defends pricing and tickets in US
TL;DR
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, stating that FIFA is a nonprofit organization reliant on World Cup revenue to support football globally. The cheapest ticket for the US opener is listed at $1,359, with prices reaching up to $25,000 for the final.
Key points
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino defends high ticket prices
- FIFA is a nonprofit organization
- Cheapest ticket for US opener is $1,359
- Final ticket prices range from $8,860 to $25,000
- Revenue supports football in 211 countries
Mentioned in this story
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended high ticket prices for this year’s World Cup in North America by saying that the event, which captivates the globe, is the organisation’s only source of income every four years.
Speaking at Semafor’s annual world economy summit in New York on Friday, Infantino also reiterated that FIFA is a nonprofit organisation that has 211 nations as members.
“What many people don’t know, because, of course, we generate billions in a World Cup, people don’t know FIFA is a nonprofit organisation, which means all the revenue we generate, we invest them in the organisation of the game, in 211 countries all over the world,” Infantino said on stage during a Q&A session. “Three-quarters of [those countries] probably would not be able to have organised football without the grants we could give them. So we always try to find the right balance.”
A check at the secondary-market ticket site StubHub on Friday showed that the most inexpensive ticket for the United States’s World Cup opener on June 12 against Paraguay was listed at $1,359, while tickets in the lower bowl of the Los Angeles venue were priced as high as $14,000 per seat.
For the World Cup final in the New York area on July 19, a single ticket in the upper deck was priced at $8,860 and as much as $25,000 in the lower bowl.
After initial complaints about the ticket prices and availability, FIFA introduced a $60 option that was a small portion of each venue.
“The main, and so far the only, revenue-generating event for FIFA is the World Cup,” Infantino said. “The World Cup takes place one month every four years, so we generate money in one month. The 47 months until the next World Cup, we spend that money.”
Infantino called North America “a very special market,” and he said he has been living in the United States for the past two to three years in order to better “understand” the market.
A record 48 teams, organised in 12 groups of four, are playing in this year’s World Cup that will have games in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will consist of a record 104 matches.
Q&A
Why are World Cup 2026 ticket prices so high?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained that high ticket prices are necessary as the World Cup is FIFA's primary source of income every four years.
What are the ticket prices for the World Cup final in 2026?
Ticket prices for the World Cup final in the New York area range from $8,860 in the upper deck to $25,000 in the lower bowl.
How does FIFA use the revenue from the World Cup?
FIFA invests the revenue generated from the World Cup into organizing football in 211 countries, supporting those that may not be able to sustain organized football without financial assistance.
