Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices Amid Fan Backlash

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 17, 2026

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the sharp rise in ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that tournament revenue is central to funding FIFA’s work and football development during the years between World Cups.

His comments come as criticism grows among football supporters over ticket prices that have reached unusually high levels, especially for knockout matches and the final.

The 2026 tournament will be held across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup in history. FIFA has pointed to record demand, saying more than 150 million ticket requests were submitted during the random selection draw phase, the highest level of demand ever recorded for the tournament.

Still, the debate is not only about demand. Some tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have reached several thousand dollars, raising concerns that dynamic pricing is pushing the World Cup further away from ordinary fans and turning access into a luxury experience.

FIFA has tried to ease criticism by highlighting a 60-dollar supporter ticket tier for fans of participating national teams, while also saying that World Cup revenues are reinvested in football around the world. But for many supporters, the concern remains clear: the biggest World Cup ever may also become one of the least affordable for regular fans.

For Canadian audiences, the issue carries added weight. With the tournament taking place in North America and matches being hosted in Canadian cities, ticket affordability is becoming part of a wider discussion about who can realistically attend the world’s biggest football event.