FIFA continues facing criticism because of the expensive ticket prices attached to the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Their president, Gianni Infantino, repeatedly defended the organisation in recent months and insisted the prices reflect demand, market conditions and the tournament’s global financial importance.
He even downplayed complaints surrounding affordability, although his ally Donald Trump has now appeared to publicly disagree with him regarding the costs fans are facing.
Donald Trump says he would not pay for USMNT World Cup debut
Trump recently reacted to the ticket prices attached to the United States men’s national team opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on 12 June.
According to The Athletic, the cheapest available ticket for the fixture currently costs $1,120 on the market.
When informed about that figure during an interview with the New York Post, Trump admitted he had not realised how expensive attending the game would actually become for supporters.
“I did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you,” the United States president stated.
Those remarks may create an uncomfortable situation for FIFA because Infantino consistently defended the organisation’s pricing structure despite growing backlash from soccer supporters around the world.
The FIFA president argued that resale policies in the United States contribute heavily towards inflated secondary market prices rather than the original face value established by the governing body.
Infantino also repeatedly claimed that the World Cup remains FIFA’s only major revenue source during each four-year cycle, making tournament profits essential for soccer development projects globally.
According to the Italian lawyer, revenue generated through competitions like the World Cup helps FIFA support soccer infrastructure and sporting investment across more than 100 countries worldwide.
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