Gianni Infantino has addressed mounting criticism over soaring ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, insisting that unprecedented global demand has driven the surge.
Speaking during a Q&A session with Semafor, Infantino emphasised that FIFA’s financial model depends almost entirely on revenue generated from the World Cup.
He noted that the organisation earns the bulk of its income during the tournament itself and relies on those funds to sustain operations over the following four-year cycle.
The pricing controversy comes as fans worldwide voice concerns over affordability, with many arguing that the cost of attending matches has placed the tournament out of reach for ordinary supporters.
FIFA, however, points to extraordinary demand as justification, revealing that approximately 150 million ticket requests have been made for just 7 million available seats.
According to the governing body, interest in the 2026 edition far exceeds that of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with demand reportedly outstripping supply by a factor of 30.
Infantino framed the overwhelming response as a testament to football’s global appeal, expressing confidence that the tournament will deliver a historic spectacle.
He said the event in North America would bring fans together on an unprecedented scale, celebrating both unity and the sport at its highest level.
“This overwhelming response from passionate fans is a true representation of how our game is loved globally,” Infantino said.
“We are going to make history in North America when we bring the world together like never before in a celebration of unity and the best of football.”
The 23rd edition of the World Cup tournament has been slated to kick off from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across USA, Canada and Mexico.
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