By Our Correspondent

National News – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the soaring prices of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that global demand and market realities justify the costs.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, Infantino addressed criticism from fans and organizations who have labeled the ticket pricing as excessive.

The controversy intensified after resale listings showed tickets for the July 19 final in New York priced at over $2 million.

Infantino explained that the high resale prices do not reflect FIFA’s official ticket costs but are influenced by market demand and U.S. laws permitting ticket resales.

According to him, FIFA is operating within a competitive entertainment market where pricing aligns with demand.

He emphasized that even when tickets are sold at lower prices, they often reappear on resale platforms at significantly higher rates.

The backlash, particularly from Football Supporters Europe, led to legal action filed with the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of excessive pricing.

Critics also compared the 2026 pricing to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the most expensive final ticket was about $1,600, compared to roughly $11,000 for the upcoming tournament’s top-tier ticket.

Addressing concerns, Infantino noted that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 tournament, far surpassing the combined demand for the 2018 and 2022 editions.

He added that about 25 percent of group-stage tickets are priced under $300, arguing that such prices are competitive within the U.S. sports and entertainment landscape.

Infantino further stated that FIFA must balance accessibility with market realities, maintaining that the organization is not responsible for inflated resale prices.

He concluded that the unprecedented demand for the World Cup demonstrates its global appeal, which ultimately drives ticket value and pricing dynamics.