In a recent conversation with the Post, former President Trump criticized the soaring ticket prices for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. He mentioned he’s unwilling to pay the $1,000 price tag for the United States’ opening match against Paraguay next month.
During a brief phone call late Wednesday, he voiced his astonishment at the amount that American soccer fans need to fork out to attend the June 12 game in Los Angeles.
A few hours after FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket costs for the upcoming matches, Trump remarked that he wasn’t aware of such a price. “I’d like to join, but honestly, I won’t even shell out that kind of money,” he said.
Infantino, in a light-hearted comment, mentioned that resale tickets for the final on July 19 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium are going for over $2 million online, joking that he would personally deliver “hot dogs and cokes” to those willing to pay that price.
Trump indicated potentially monitoring the steep ticket prices, expressing concern that such costs might alienate working-class fans, a demographic that usually supports him.
“I haven’t seen the details, but I should check it out,” said Trump, who was instrumental in bringing the tournament to the U.S. during his time in office.
He added, “I’d be let down if people from Queens, Brooklyn, and all my supporters couldn’t attend, but it’s still a remarkable achievement.” His sentiment seemed to underline a desire for his supporters to have access to the games.
He claimed that the tournament represents a commercial triumph, highlighting the “record” number of tickets sold, which FIFA estimates at 5 million.
“It’s evident that this has been very successful,” Trump stated. “They’ve set unprecedented records.”
However, fans both in the U.S. and abroad have raised concerns, arguing that many tickets are being sold through major resale platforms at inflated prices, often by opportunistic scalpers.
A group of fans in Europe has lodged an antitrust complaint against FIFA, alleging excessive pricing practices by the organization.
At the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino defended the decision to implement dynamic pricing, addressing the criticism from supporters globally. “We have to respond to the market,” he explained. “We’re operating in a highly developed entertainment market, so market rates apply.”
He also noted that the U.S. allows ticket resales, implying that if tickets are sold at lower prices, they will simply be resold at even higher prices. The tournament is reportedly facing around 500 million ticket requests.
“In the U.S., you can’t even attend a college game for less than $300, much less see top professional players,” he continued, while highlighting that this is the World Cup.
A study conducted by FIFA and the World Trade Organization assessed the tournament’s broader economic impact at about $30 billion, although this figure came in lower than anticipated due to sluggish hotel reservations compared to ticket sales.
With the tournament kick-off just six weeks away, the American Hotel and Lodging Association reported that nearly 80% of hotels in the 11 host cities are experiencing lower occupancy than expected as the World Cup approaches.
In Kansas City, between 85% to 90% of carriers indicated that without significant events, demand would be below the usual levels for June or July.
Despite having sold over 5 million tickets, the AHLA report noted that domestic travelers are still outpacing international ones, and hotel reservations are lagging.
Factors like visa delays, rising travel costs, and global concerns have been identified as key reasons affecting external demand.
“Reservations are coming in lower than anticipated,” the report stated, with some hotels suggesting that the tournament might be viewed as “less of an event” than initially expected.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in a total of 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., concluding on July 19 with the finals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
