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Infantino Defends $140-$33K Tickets, Flags Visa Limits

6/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, noting they start at $140, the final can cost up to $32,970, and 130,000 $60 tickets were offered.
He said the average price is under $500 and welcomed state attorneys general investigations.
Infantino said FIFA cannot override U.S. visa decisions for referee Omar Artan and that the organization is working behind the scenes to resolve the Somali referee’s entry denial.

History

Historical Context

The 2006 FIFA World Cup, held 9 June–9 July 2006 in unified Germany, featured 31 qualified nations plus the host and generated intense commercial scrutiny, including sponsorship disputes such as Budweiser’s ambush-marketing case and Mastercard’s lawsuit over World Cup rights. Those controversies set a precedent for later ticket-price debates that FIFA faces today, prompting calls for pricing reforms and stricter oversight.

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Story summary

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, noting they start at $140, the final can cost up to $32,970, and 130,000 $60 tickets were offered.
He said the average price is under $500 and welcomed state attorneys general investigations.
Infantino said FIFA cannot override U.S. visa decisions for referee Omar Artan and that the organization is working behind the scenes to resolve the Somali referee’s entry denial.

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