FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday defended the pricing structure for the 2026 men's World Cup, brushing aside criticism from fans and investigations by US state attorneys general. Speaking from Mexico City ahead of the tournament's opening match, Infantino argued that ticket prices were in line with other major North American sporting events.
“If we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong,” Infantino said, pointing to the cost of attending NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final games. FIFA has set prices ranging from $140 (€121) for group-stage matches to $32,970 (€28,556) for the best seats at the final in New Jersey on 19 July. The average ticket price, according to Infantino, is under $500 (€433).
Critics have noted that while resale prices for US playoff games may be comparable, list prices for the World Cup are significantly higher. In response to backlash, FIFA offered 130,000 tickets at $60 (€51) to national federations for their supporters, out of a total of 6–7 million tickets available for the 48-team, 104-match tournament.
Investigations and Entry Denial
Infantino remained unfazed by investigations launched by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas into FIFA's ticketing practices. “We are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6.5 million or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers,” he said. “We welcome every investigation.”
On a separate controversy, Infantino addressed the denial of US entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who was turned back at Miami International Airport despite holding what he described as a valid visa. The US State Department cited Artan's alleged association with “suspected members of terrorist organisations” as the reason for his inadmissibility.
“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino said, urging critics to “chill.” He acknowledged that FIFA cannot dictate immigration policy but said the organization is working “behind the scenes” to resolve such issues. Artan, named the 2025 men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. He was greeted by thousands of supporters upon his return to Mogadishu.
For more on this story, see our earlier report: Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Entry Despite World Cup Role.
Opening Match Concerns and Political Tensions
Meanwhile, the tournament's curtain-raiser at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca faces potential disruption from social unrest. Protesters blocked a major avenue near the stadium on Tuesday, though police lines prevented them from reaching the venue. Thousands participated in the demonstration, part of a week of action that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has labeled a “provocation.” Sheinbaum has guaranteed the match will proceed but ruled out using police to suppress the protests.
US President Donald Trump, who has cultivated a close relationship with Infantino, announced plans to attend the World Cup without specifying which games. “I spoke to Gianni this morning... he said there's never been anything close,” to the success of the upcoming tournament, Trump said.
Messi Returns to Form
On the pitch, Argentina's Lionel Messi eased injury concerns by scoring just minutes after coming off the bench in a 3-0 warm-up win against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama. The 38-year-old, who missed Argentina's final friendlies due to a hamstring injury, converted a penalty after being fouled in the box. Argentina, the defending champions, begin their campaign on 16 June against Algeria in Kansas City.
For context on broader European energy and economic issues, see our analysis: Germany's Renewable Energy Boom Fails to Lower High Electricity Prices and Oil Prices Surge as Iran Halts Talks and Threatens Strait of Hormuz.
