Gianni Infantino says without World Cup ticket revenue 'there'd be no football in 150 countries'
FIFA has faced criticism after ticket prices for the 2026 tournament were revealed, which are the most expensive in World Cup history.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed that World Cup ticket revenue is necessary for sustaining football in 150 countries.
The sport’s governing body has faced heavy criticism after ticket prices for the 2026 tournament were revealed, which are the most expensive in World Cup history. Fan group Football Supporters Europe described the prices as “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup.”
After widespread backlash to general ticket prices and those for fans of participating member associations (PMAs), released on December 11, FIFA introduced the “supporter entry tier” five days later, which offers around 1,000 tickets per game for $60 to supporters of the two competing teams.
At the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday, Infantino spoke publicly for the first time since those ticket prices were announced.
“What’s crucial is that the revenues that are generated from this are going back to the game all over the world,” said the 55-year-old.
“Without FIFA, there would be no football in 150 countries in the world. There is football because, and thanks to, these revenues we generate with, and from, the World Cup, which we reinvest all over the world.”
A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic earlier this month that, in relation to World Cup ticket prices, “the revenue FIFA generates from the World Cup is reinvested to fuel the growth of the game (men, women, youth) throughout FIFA’s 211 member associations globally. As a matter of fact, FIFA expects to reinvest more than 90 per cent of its budgeted investments for the cycle 2023-2026 back in the game to significantly boost global football development.
“Without FIFA’s financial support, more than 50 per cent of FIFA’s member associations could not operate.”
Ticket prices for the World Cup were released following the draw for the tournament’s group stage, which was made on December 5 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
FIFA’s average price for the three opening matches of the tournament for hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States across Categories 1, 2 and 3 was $1,728. Prices vary for the other 39 teams. For example, the average price across Category 1-3 prices released by FIFA earlier this month for games involving Germany in the group stage was $422.
Category 3 tickets for the semi-finals exceed $900, with the most expensive seats costing $3,295.
Tickets for the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium have been on sale for as much as $8,680 since the draw at the start of this month, nearly $2,000 more than the original price in October.