FIFA President Gianni Infantino has launched a spirited defence of World Cup ticket prices and visa handling on the eve of the 2026 tournament, telling critics that FIFA “cannot rule over governments” .
Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, Infantino addressed growing concerns over the cost of attending matches, with some tickets topping $30,000 for the final . He insisted that pricing is fair when compared to other American sports.
“Let me just say that our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price below 500 dollars is again the lowest of the American sports on average,” Infantino said .
He remained relaxed about investigations by several US state attorneys general into FIFA’s ticketing practices, stating, “We welcome every investigation” .
Infantino also responded to controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US due to security concerns .
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. We don’t control everything… Sometimes it’s good to chill, relax. We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation,” he said .
The 48-team World Cup kicks off on Thursday with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa .
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