FIFA President Defends Ticket Pricing Strategy
FIFA President Gianni Infantino strongly defended the organization's ticket pricing for the upcoming World Cup, stating that if FIFA is doing something wrong, then virtually every ticket seller in North America is also at fault. Speaking during a rare press conference on the eve of the tournament's opening match, Infantino addressed criticism over record-high ticket prices for the expanded 48-nation, 104-game event.
Ticket prices for group-stage games start at $140, while regular seats for the July 19 final near New York are listed at up to $8,680, with hospitality packages reaching $73,200. FIFA later raised final ticket prices to $10,990 and then $32,970. In response to backlash, the organization offered $60 tickets through national federations for dedicated supporters, with 130,000 tickets made available in that category.
Comparing the pricing to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where tickets ranged from $69 to $1,607, Infantino argued that lower prices would simply fuel secondary markets. "If you sell it at a lower price point, in this particular market it would have gone to secondary markets at much higher prices, and where would the money go? To those who organize secondary markets or black market activities, not to football," he explained.
Infantino claimed the average ticket price for the tournament is below $500, comparable to other major U.S. sports playoffs. However, while resale prices may align, list prices for events like the MLB World Series average $350 to $400, and NFL playoff tickets range from $230 for wild-card games to $3,300 for the Super Bowl. The get-in price on FIFA's resale site for the final is $9,805, similar to NBA Finals games, which have varied from $500 to $10,000 depending on the matchup.
Legal Investigations and Comparisons to U.S. Sports
Infantino expressed no concern over ticket probes by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. "We are very relaxed about it because before selling 6.5 or 7 million tickets, we check what we do with the best lawyers and experts. If we do something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong as well," he said.
He cited the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs as an example of similar price surges, noting that Game 3 in New York had a get-in price of about $10,000. The Stanley Cup Final also saw minimum get-in prices of at least $600 for the first four games. "We welcome every investigation. We are happy to present everything and make our case," Infantino added.
Issues with Somali Referee and Iran's Participation
Infantino addressed the denial of U.S. entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup. Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport due to unspecified "vetting concerns." Infantino said FIFA is powerless to override government decisions. "We don't control everything. We try to solve everything, but we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces," he stated.
On Iran's participation, Infantino praised FIFA for facilitating the team's travel amid U.S.-Iran tensions. The Iranian team moved its training camp to Mexico and will fly to the U.S. just before matches. "I think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America. I don't know who would have managed to do that," he said.
Infantino Credits Trump and Discusses Revenue
Infantino claimed the tournament could not have taken place without the engagement of former President Donald Trump. "Without his engagement and involvement, I think it would have been impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude and impact of the World Cup," Infantino said.
FIFA projects $11 billion in revenue for the tournament, but Infantino noted that the organization could have earned far more by putting all broadcasts on pay services. "We could put everything on pay and generate $30 billion in revenues, but then billions of people in the world would not be able to watch the World Cup," he explained.
Infantino, who has been FIFA president since 2016 and intends to seek another term through 2031, kept an empty seat at the press conference for French freelance reporter Christophe Gleizes, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria over an interview with a soccer official.
