FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed ticket pricing for the World Cup on Wednesday, stating, “If we’re doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.”
The ticket prices for the upcoming 48-nation tournament, which kicks off Thursday, range from $140 to an eye-watering $8,680 for regular seats at the July 19 final in New Jersey. Initially, the highest ticket was priced at $10,990 before it soared to $32,970. In light of backlash, FIFA has made 130,000 tickets available at a lower price of $60 for regular fans, out of an overall offer of 6 million to 7 million tickets.
Infantino noted that the average ticket price would be below $500, which he compared to other major U.S. sports playoffs. This claim might hold for resale markets, but when looking at the initial listed prices, it’s a bit different. He mentioned he isn’t worried about investigations from attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
“We’re quite relaxed about this, as we have the best legal minds assisting us before the sale of 6.5 or 7 million tickets,” he remarked. “We’re open to all inquiries.”
Looking at the NBA Finals, ticket costs vary significantly, starting at around $500 for the first two games in San Antonio and spiking to nearly $10,000 for Game 3 in New York, where prices for Game 4 dipped to about $4,000 on Wednesday.
For the Stanley Cup Final, tickets for the initial four games of the best-of-seven series range from $600 and up.
Infantino comments on Somali referee’s entry denial
Infantino expressed that it was “unfortunate” regarding Somali referee Omar Altan being barred from entering the U.S., urging everyone to “remain calm.”
He said FIFA is trying to assist behind the scenes but lacks authority over government immigration decisions.
“We aim to create a positive atmosphere and find solutions,” he added. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
He also remarked, “We don’t live on the moon; we live on Earth.”
Credit for Iran’s participation
Infantino lauded FIFA for facilitating Iran’s participation in the tournament, even amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. The Iranian team’s training camp will move to Mexico before they fly into the U.S. for their matches.
“I’m not sure who else could assure Iran’s participation under these conditions,” Infantino noted.
He went on to claim that this tournament might just be “the biggest event in human history.”
A smoother conference than in Qatar
This press conference seemed to go smoother than his previous appearance in Qatar, where Infantino had scolded his critics and commented on various controversial issues surrounding human rights.
At 50, Infantino has been leading FIFA since 2010 and intends to run for re-election next year for a term extending to 2031.
He concluded the conference by leaving an empty space for French journalist Christophe Gleize, who faced a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria due to an interview concerning a soccer official linked to a banned separatist movement.
