Infantino Defends Sky High World Cup Ticket Prices, Says FIFA Played by the Rules
As the countdown to football’s biggest spectacle enters its final stage, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has moved to defend the organisation on multiple fronts, rejecting criticism over soaring World Cup ticket prices, responding to concerns surrounding the denial of entry to a Somali referee, and praising FIFA’s diplomatic efforts in ensuring participation from politically sensitive nations.
Speaking in Mexico City during a rare and wide ranging media interaction ahead of the opening match of the expanded 48 nation, 104 match FIFA World Cup , Infantino argued that criticism of ticket pricing overlooked broader market realities in North American sports.
The strongest reaction has centred on the price of attending the final. While group stage tickets started at USD 140 , premium seats for the July 19 final reached extraordinary levels, with hospitality packages climbing into tens of thousands of dollars. FIFA later introduced a lower priced allocation for supporter groups through national federations after criticism intensified.
Infantino defended the pricing model, arguing that artificially lowering prices would only push demand into resale markets and encourage unofficial profiteering rather than benefiting football itself. He maintained that FIFA had carefully structured its sales process and expressed confidence despite legal scrutiny emerging in several US states over ticket practices.
He also attempted to place FIFA’s pricing in context by comparing it with major American sporting events, pointing to the escalating costs seen across championship competitions in the United States.
Beyond commercial questions, FIFA was also confronted with controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan , who had been expected to become the first official from Somalia to work at a World Cup. Artan was denied entry into the United States over unspecified security vetting concerns.
Infantino acknowledged the disappointment but stressed that FIFA does not possess authority over national immigration systems. He said the organisation continued to work privately to find solutions while respecting government decisions on security matters.
Another issue drawing attention was the participation of Iran’s national team amid wider geopolitical tensions. Infantino described FIFA’s role in ensuring logistical arrangements as an important achievement, noting that football must continue operating even amid difficult international circumstances.
The FIFA chief also credited US President Donald Trump for supporting preparations for the tournament, arguing that the scale and complexity of hosting the event in the United States required active political engagement.
Projecting approximately USD 11 billion in tournament revenue , Infantino claimed the competition could have generated significantly more through paywall models but insisted FIFA prioritised keeping the World Cup accessible to global audiences.
With the tournament ready to begin, FIFA enters its biggest World Cup yet carrying enormous expectations and equally intense scrutiny over how football’s grandest stage is delivered.