FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed disappointment over the high ticket prices for this year’s World Cup, suggesting it would be unfortunate if fans disapprove. He noted recently that the cost of tickets had increased significantly for this summer’s matches, with final tickets soaring to nearly $13,000—up from around $1,600 for the 2022 tournament—largely due to US resellers marking up prices excessively.
Infantino stated at the Milken Institute conference in Beverly Hills that pricing must reflect the market, as the U.S. is a leading entertainment market. “If we price tickets too low, they’ll just be resold at inflated costs,” he explained, highlighting the impact this has on many hardworking Americans.
As an example, ticket prices for the U.S. men’s soccer team’s upcoming opener against Paraguay on June 12 start at $1,000. Additionally, ticket prices for knockout round games have skyrocketed, with resale prices reaching up to $2.2 million for four seats at the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The exorbitant prices, particularly for the upcoming finals, have led to some lighthearted commentary from Infantino. He joked that if someone buys a ticket for $2 million, he would personally deliver a hot dog and a Coke to ensure an enjoyable experience.
FIFA, established as a tax-exempt entity in Switzerland, has reportedly received over 500 million ticket requests for this 48-team event co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, starting June 11. Furthermore, FIFA will take a 30% commission on tickets sold through its official resale channel.
While some fans may manage to pay less, U.S. taxpayers could end up covering a substantial part of the security expenses. Congress has allocated $625 million to assist 11 host cities, intended for police overtime, emergency response, and other safety measures for the 78 scheduled matches in the U.S.
The federal designation of these events as national special security events puts the Secret Service in charge of coordinating security resources, addressing any significant risks associated with the World Cup.
Host city officials mentioned that this funding is crucial to avoid planning gaps for what anticipates being one of the biggest sporting events in U.S. history.
Amidst these preparations, new reports indicate that New York City’s hotel industry might not reap expected benefits from the World Cup. Recent data suggests that hotel bookings from June 13 to July 19 are falling significantly short of expectations, raising concerns about a “very disappointing” World Cup.
In fact, last year, New York City saw 12.3 million international visitors—2.4 million less than anticipated and below the 13.5 million who visited in 2019 prior to the pandemic. A report from James Lima, planning and development director for the City Hotel Association, attributes this shortfall to federal policies and global challenges.
Moreover, about two-thirds of hotels in New York noted fewer World Cup bookings than they had hoped for. By April, hotels had only filled 18% of available rooms during the tournament timeframe, a drop from 26% in the previous year.
Nationally, nearly 80% of hotel operators in U.S. World Cup host cities reported lower bookings than expected. In New York, over 60% of hotel managers cited barriers like international travel issues and visa delays as significant factors. Additionally, FIFA’s release of pre-booked room blocks may have further misled potential demand, as pointed out in the AHLA report.
