United States President, Donald Trump, has criticised the cost of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying he would not pay the reported $1,000 (£736) needed to attend the USA’s opening match against Paraguay.
The United States will co-host the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with the competition scheduled to begin on June 11.
The American team will start its Group D campaign in Los Angeles on June 12.
Trump reacted after being asked about reports that fans could spend as much as $1,000 to secure seats for the match.
“I did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you,” Trump told The New York Post.
The comments add to growing criticism surrounding FIFA’s pricing model for the tournament. Unlike previous editions of the World Cup, ticket prices for group-stage matches have reportedly been set according to the popularity of teams involved rather than through a standard pricing structure.
Supporters have also raised concerns over resale prices on FIFA’s official ticketing platform. Under the current system, FIFA receives a 30 per cent fee from resale transactions, with both the buyer and seller paying 15 per cent each.
Trump said high prices could prevent many supporters from attending matches in the United States.
“If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success,” Trump added.
“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has defended the ticket prices, arguing that they reflect the wider sports market in the United States.
“In the US, it is permitted to resell tickets as well, so if you were to sell tickets at a price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price,” Infantino said on Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.
Following criticism from supporters and observers, FIFA later introduced a limited number of lower-cost tickets priced at £45 for all 104 matches in the tournament.
The governing body hopes the move will improve access for fans who may struggle with rising travel and accommodation expenses linked to the competition.
Transport and accommodation costs have already become a major talking point ahead of the tournament, particularly because of the large travel distances between host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some host cities have also introduced measures aimed at limiting resale inflation. In Toronto, tickets for World Cup matches can only be resold at their original value because of Ontario government regulations banning resale above face value.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the biggest tournament in FIFA history.
(BBC)
