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Infantino Defends $500 Cap on 2026 World Cup Tickets

6/11/2026

Summary

Infantino Defends Prices

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended 2026 World Cup ticket prices, noting the cost is under $500.
Ticket prices start at $140, can rise to $32,970 for New Jersey seats, with FIFA allocating 130,000 tickets at $60 each to federations.
Infantino said FIFA is relaxed about probes by the attorneys general of California, New Jersey, New York and Texas, credited U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement to enable the tournament, and projected $11 billion.

Summary

Ticket Prices Plummet

Median resale listings for group-stage tickets fell 28% from $1,291 in February to $928 in May.
The cheapest group-stage tickets dropped from $184 to $134, a 27% decline.
Median price for the U.S. opener fell from over $3,200 in February to $2,055 by May.
Analysts say the declines reflect dynamic-pricing algorithms reacting to weaker demand rather than FIFA cuts.

Summary

Canada Hosts

Canada will host 13 matches—10 group-stage and 3 knockout—at BC Place and BMO Field.
The Last-Minute Sales Phase and FIFA’s resale marketplace opened April 1 and April 2, providing sales, ticket swaps, and categories from premium Category 1 to economical Category 4.
Coach Jesse Marsch’s Canadian Canucks reached the 2024 Copa América semi-finals, beat the United States, rose in the FIFA ranking, and will play marquee games such as Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire in Toronto and New Zealand vs Belgium in Vancouver.

Summary

AGs Probe FIFA

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened a June 9, 2026 probe into FIFA for bait-and-switch ticket sales.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a May letter demanding FIFA reveal its seating-category marketing and refunds.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport subpoenaed FIFA for data on variable pricing and MetLife seat assignments.

History

Historical Context

FIFA awarded the 1994 World Cup to the United States on July 4 1988; the tournament ran June 17–July 17 1994 and drew 3,587,538 spectators, generating a $623 million profit for Los Angeles and prompting the launch of Major League Soccer in 1996. That financial success underpins today’s 2026 pricing discussions involving FIFA and U.S. officials.

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Infantino Defends Prices

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended 2026 World Cup ticket prices, noting the cost is under $500.
Ticket prices start at $140, can rise to $32,970 for New Jersey seats, with FIFA allocating 130,000 tickets at $60 each to federations.
Infantino said FIFA is relaxed about probes by the attorneys general of California, New Jersey, New York and Texas, credited U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement to enable the tournament, and projected $11 billion.

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