December 30, 2025 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has robustly defended the high ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pointing to overwhelming global demand as justification for the costs that have sparked widespread criticism from fans.
Speaking at the World Sports Summit in Dubai on December 29, Infantino revealed that FIFA received a staggering 150 million ticket requests in just 15 days for the approximately 6-7 million tickets available—equating to 10 million requests per day.
“This is absolutely crazy,” Infantino said, emphasizing the tournament’s unprecedented popularity ahead of the 48-team event co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The comments come amid growing outrage over the 2026 World Cup pricing structure, which features some of the most expensive World Cup tickets in history—ranging from $140 for select group stage matches to over $2,735 for premium seats at high-profile games like the USA’s opener, and up to thousands for the final at MetLife Stadium.
Fan groups have labeled the costs “scandalous” and out of reach for average supporters, with resale prices already soaring.
Infantino’s Key Quotes: Demand Justifies Pricing and Funds Global Football
Infantino highlighted the scale of interest: “In the almost 100 years of the World Cup History, FIFA has sold 44 million tickets in total. So, in two weeks we could have filled 300 years of World Cups.
He noted that the majority of requests came from the United States, followed by Germany and Britain, underscoring North America’s excitement for the expanded tournament.
Defending the revenue model, the FIFA chief stressed reinvestment: “What’s crucial is that the revenues that are generated from this are going back to the game all over the world. Without FIFA, there would be no football in 150 countries.”
He argued that high demand reflects the event’s value, with dynamic pricing (fluctuating based on market interest) ensuring accessibility for some categories while premium options fund global development.
Ticket Price Breakdown and Demand Stats
For context, here’s a snapshot of 2026 World Cup ticket pricing (face value, USD):
| Match Type | Cheapest (Cat 4) | Premium (Cat 1) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | $140-$305 | Up to $990 | Most affordable; high demand from hosts |
| Round of 32/Round of 16 | $200+ | $1,500+ | New stages in expanded format |
| Quarterfinals | $400+ | $2,000+ | Rising with progression |
| Semifinals | $600+ | $3,000+ | Premium views scarce |
| Final (MetLife) | $1,000+ | $6,730+ | Resale already hitting extremes |
- Total Tickets: ~6-7 million across 104 matches.
- Requests So Far: 150 million in initial phases (as of mid-December).
- Sales Phases: Ongoing general sales post-draw; first-come-first-served ramping up in 2026. 9
Fan Backlash and Potential Adjustments
Despite Infantino’s defense, criticism persists. Social media and fan forums decry prices as excluding working-class supporters, with some calling for caps or more affordable allocations.
Unconfirmed reports suggest FIFA may introduce limited $60 tickets per match following backlash, though official sources haven’t verified this yet.
As the December 2025 team draw dust settles, demand shows no signs of slowing—proving Infantino’s “crazy” label apt. For fans, the message is clear: Act fast on FIFA.com/tickets to avoid resale markups.
