FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 official match schedule announcement in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
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Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday justified the controversially excessive ticket costs for the 2026 World Cup by saying that the event had already obtained over 150 million ticket requests in the course of the newest gross sales window, an unprecedented stage of demand.
Infantino additionally mentioned that a lot of the proceeds from the event — which will probably be held throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico subsequent yr — will probably be steered to develop soccer worldwide, stating flatly that “with out FIFA, there could be no soccer in 150 international locations on this planet. ”
His feedback on the World Sports activities Summit in Dubai have been his first public remarks since the latest software interval for tickets opened up in early December — resulting in outrage after followers noticed the costs being charged.
These costs vary from $140 for a handful of preliminary spherical video games to as a lot as $2,735 for the U.S. opening match towards Paraguay that will probably be held in Los Angeles subsequent yr.
Costs for knockout rounds surge much more, with FIFA charging $4,185 for the most cost effective ticket for the ultimate that will probably be held in July in New Jersey — and $8,680 for the most costly seats.
FIFA subsequently introduced a particular tier of $60 tickets for every of the 104 video games of the event for followers of collaborating international locations’ groups, although that may signify solely a small fraction of accessible tickets.
“In the previous couple of days, you’ve gotten in all probability seen there may be loads of debate about ticketing and ticket costs,” Infantino mentioned earlier than saying the event had obtained 150 million ticket requests because the software interval for tickets opened on Dec. 11, a quantity he described as “completely loopy.”
“This reveals how highly effective the World Cup is,” he mentioned.
FIFA has defended its December costs — that are a lot larger than in earlier World Cups and in lots of instances larger than ticket costs in gross sales home windows earlier this yr — by saying that the overwhelming majority of the proceeds from the event will assist the event of soccer worldwide.
“There’s soccer as a result of [of] and because of these revenues we generate with and from the World Cup, which we reinvest, in fact, all around the world,” Infantino mentioned in Dubai on Monday.
The continuing gross sales window will stay open till Jan. 13. Individuals can apply to purchase tickets for every of the 104 video games. The date after they find yourself submitting their functions may have no bearing on their possibilities of succeeding, in accordance with FIFA.
