FIFA president says World Cup tickets fairly priced despite cost.
Following criticism, FIFA offered $60 tickets to national federations specifically for their regular, non-corporate supporters.
FIFA President Defends High World Cup Ticket Prices, Says US Pricing Similar
Speaking during a rare question-and-answer session on the eve of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament, Infantino rejected criticism of pricing that sees regular seats for the July 19 final outside New York listed at up to $8,680 and hospitality seats reaching $73,200.
“If we do something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong,” Infantino told reporters. FIFA priced group-stage tickets starting at $140, with final tickets later raised to $10,990 and $32,970. After significant criticism, FIFA offered $60 tickets to national federations for their regular supporters, with Infantino noting 130,000 tickets were made available in that category. Four years ago in Qatar, prices ranged from $69 to $1,607.
Defending the pricing strategy, Infantino explained: “If you sell it at a lower price point, in this particular market it would have gone — which is perfectly legal in this Where would the money go then? To those who organise secondary markets or black market activities and not to football.”
Infantino claimed the average ticket price was below $500, comparable to US sports playoffs. However, this appears inaccurate for list prices. Major League Baseball’s World Series average has been $350-$400 in recent years, while NFL prices average $230 for wild-card round, $320 for divisional games, and $450 for conference championships. The NBA Finals between New York and San Antonio have seen wildly varied get-in prices, from about $500 to $10,000. The Stanley Cup Final’s get-in price has been at least $600 per game.
Regarding ticket investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, Infantino said FIFA is “very relaxed.” He added: “We welcome every investigation. We are happy to present everything, and we are happy to make our case.”
FIFA Powerless to Get US Entry for Denied Somali Referee
Infantino expressed regret that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US at Miami International Airport on Saturday over unspecified “vetting concerns.” Artan was set to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup. “We don’t control everything. We try. We’ll discuss, we will speak, we’ll see. “We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.
Infantino Praises FIFA’s Role in Securing Iran’s Participation
Infantino credited FIFA for enabling Iran to play in the tournament despite the US being at war with that country. The Iranian team moved its training camp from the US to Mexico and will fly to America just before matches. “I think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America,” he said.
Infantino Claims Tournament Could Not Have Happened Without Trump
Infantino said the World Cup would have been “impossible” without former President Donald Trump’s involvement. “He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup, the impact of the World Cup.” FIFA projects $11 billion in revenue, though Infantino claimed they could generate $30 billion by putting everything on pay TV but chose not to, saying “billions of people in the world would not be able to watch.”
Infantino, 56, has been FIFA president since 2016 and intends to seek another term through 2031. He kept an empty seat at the news conference for French reporter Christophe Gleizes, sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement. Four years ago in Qatar, Infantino had lectured Europeans criticizing Qatar’s human rights record, making odd claims about feeling gay, like a woman, and like a migrant worker.