Trump Blasts FIFA Ticket Prices Ahead Of US World Cup
United States President Donald Trump has openly questioned FIFA’s pricing structure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring in a published interview that he would not personally pay the steep ticket costs being charged for the tournament set to be hosted on American soil.
Speaking to the New York Post in an interview published on Thursday, Trump said he was unaware of just how high the prices had climbed. “I did not know that number,” he said, adding, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
The remarks carry particular weight given that Trump has publicly taken credit for securing the 2026 World Cup for the United States during his first term in office. The tournament, which kicks off in June, will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump also expressed concern that ordinary Americans, particularly those from working class communities he regards as his political base, would be unable to afford attending. “If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed,” he said. “I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”
The president’s comments add political weight to a backlash that had already been building across fan groups and legislative circles. US lawmakers have criticised FIFA’s pricing model, while Football Supporters Europe, a pan-European fan coalition, described the situation as a “monumental betrayal” of football supporters worldwide.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who maintains a close relationship with Trump, defended the governing body’s position earlier in the week, arguing that FIFA was legally obligated to allow ticket resale under US laws that permit secondary market sales far above face value. He also disclosed that FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 edition, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments combined.
Infantino further noted that 25 per cent of group stage tickets were priced below $300, a figure critics argue does little to address the broader affordability crisis.
The contrast with previous tournaments has drawn sharp attention. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the most expensive final ticket was priced at approximately $1,600 at face value. For the 2026 final, that figure has climbed to around $11,000, a near sevenfold increase that has shocked supporters globally.
With the tournament still weeks away, pressure on FIFA to revisit its pricing strategy continues to mount, now amplified by the voice of the very head of state whose country will host the event.