Gianni Infantino defends 2026 World Cup prices as final tickets hit £2m on official FIFA platform

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the controversial pricing structure for the 2026 World Cup despite growing backlash from supporters over the cost of attending the tournament.

The issue has intensified after tickets for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium appeared on FIFA’s official resale platform for more than $2 million (£1.5 million) each, sparking fresh criticism over affordability ahead of the tournament in North America.

Gianni Infantino defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices

Infantino insisted FIFA’s pricing reflects the entertainment market in the United States and argued that resale listings do not represent the original face value of tickets.

Speaking about the eye-watering resale prices earlier this week, the FIFA chief joked that he would personally bring “a hot dog and a Coke” to anyone spending $2 million on a World Cup final seat.

He also claimed that demand for the tournament has reached unprecedented levels, with FIFA reportedly receiving more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 competition.

FIFA and the tournament have already faced criticism over rising travel, accommodation and transport costs, with standard match tickets for some group-stage games already costing hundreds of dollars before resale markups are considered.

England supporters, for example, are expected to pay significantly more than those of many other nations across multiple fixtures.

Infantino also defended the pricing by comparing it to American sports and entertainment events, claiming fans in the United States regularly pay similar amounts for major occasions.

FGG says: FIFA are completely detached from ordinary supporters

Infantino’s comments are unlikely to land well with supporters already grappling with the huge costs of attending the tournament.

Comparing World Cup ticket prices to American entertainment events completely misses the point. International football has always been built on accessibility, travelling fans and unforgettable shared experiences, not just wealthy tourists and corporate clients.

The fact that FIFA’s own resale platform is hosting tickets listed at more than £1.5 million shows just how far removed the tournament has become from the reality facing ordinary supporters.

Add in expensive flights, inflated hotel rates and controversial transport charges across host cities, and it’s no surprise many fans feel the 2026 World Cup is drifting further out of reach for the people who actually create the atmosphere.