FIFA's Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices, Says Fans 'Should Chill' About Ref Denied US Entry
Infantino said FIFA’s pricing includes 130,000 $60 supporter tickets and compared average costs with U.S. playoff games.
- On Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, asserting, "If we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong."
- Amid scrutiny from attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, Infantino compared tournament pricing to major American sporting events like the NBA Finals.
- FIFA priced tickets starting at $140 for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament, with regular seats for the July 19 final in New Jersey reaching up to $8,680, though 130,000 tickets were offered at lower prices.
- Defending FIFA's stance, Infantino called it "unfortunate" that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry, saying FIFA cannot dictate government policies though it works "behind the scenes" to find solutions.
- The tournament, which Infantino claimed will be "the biggest event probably in the history of mankind," positions him ahead of seeking another FIFA term next year through 2031.
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41 Articles
FIFA's Infantino defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices, says fans 'should chill' about Somali referee denied US entry
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA (world football's governing body), responded to criticism on Wednesday regarding the high ticket prices for the tournament. He also said that while it is 'unfortunate' that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States, people needed to 'chill' and accept that 'We don't live on the moon.'
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, recognized challenges in the organization of an unpublished World Cup, and that will begin this Thursday in Mexico City. The top world football leader accepted that sometimes “he can solve them and sometimes not.” He referred in a timely manner to three topics: the presence of the Iranian selection, the sale of tickets and visas for fans who travel, above all, to the United States. He also said that Aztec sta…
The countdown for the opening of the 2026 World Cup is in its final stage. A few hours from the match between Mexico and South Africa, FIFA President Gianni Infantino led a press conference at Mexico City Stadium where he addressed three issues: Iran’s participation, ticket prices and visas. Infantino said he is “very happy” to see Iran at the 2026 World Cup despite the war problems with the United States and having to put his camp in Tijuana be…
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