11 June,2026 06:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Gianni Infantino (File Pic)
On the eve of the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026, President Gianni Infantino held a rare press conference to address several controversies. During the session, he defended the towering ticket prices.
The entry-level price for group-stage matches was set at $140 by FIFA. However, regular tickets for the highly anticipated July 19 final outside of New York cost up to $8,680, with luxury hospitality packages topping out at $73,200. FIFA later adjusted the premium pricing tiers even further, raising them to $10,990 and eventually up to $32,970.
Following wide public backlash, FIFA designated a selection of $60 tickets specifically for national associations to distribute to their loyal fanbases. Infantino confirmed that 130,000 tickets had been allocated to this lower-priced tier. In contrast, ticket prices for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ranged from $69 to $1,607.
The FIFA President argued that setting higher initial prices was a necessary strategy to combat the American ticket scalping market.
"If you sell it at a lower price point. In this particular market, it would have gone, which is perfectly legal in this country, in secondary markets at much, much, much higher prices, and where would the money go then? Well, to those who organise secondary markets or black market activities and not to football." Gianni Infantino said.
To support his defence of the tournament's pricing, Infantino cited the high-profile NBA Finals matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs as an example that mainstream American sports have expensive tickets.
Currently, the lowest price on FIFA's official resale platform to get into the final match is $9,805. The basketball championship has ticket costs, spanning from a $500 baseline for the opening games in San Antonio to a huge $10,000 for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
Defending his decision, Infantino concluded by saying that he has been transparent throughout the FIFA World Cup process and would cooperate in any investigation.
"We welcome every investigation. We are happy to present everything, and we are happy to make our case." Infantino said.
