FIFA Tickets Too Expensive, Trump: Unwilling to Spend Over a Thousand Dollars to Watch US Team Group Stage
Former US President Donald Trump criticized the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) over high ticket prices, stating he would not pay $1,000 to watch the US team's first group stage match at the World Cup. This statement comes as FIFA faces pressure regarding its pricing.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 10:00
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(Central News Agency Washington, May 7th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has recently been under pressure due to excessive ticket prices. In an interview published today, US President Donald Trump stated that he would not spend $1,000 to buy tickets to watch the US team's first group stage match at the World Cup.
Trump told The New York Post, "I didn't know that number before."
Trump, a billionaire, said, "Of course I want to go and watch it live, but honestly, I wouldn't spend that much money."
The World Cup is set to kick off in June. US lawmakers and international fan groups have strongly criticized the expensive ticket pricing structure; the fan group "Football Supporters Europe" even angrily denounced it as a "serious betrayal."
Trump appeared concerned that low-income Americans would not be able to afford World Cup tickets; this group constitutes an important part of Trump's electorate.
He said, "If people in Queens, Brooklyn, and all of Trump's fans in New York can't go to the games, I'd be disappointed, but you know (the US hosting the World Cup) is also an amazing achievement." He emphasized that he successfully secured the World Cup hosting rights for the US during his first term.
Trump added, "I hope all my fans can get into the games."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is personally close to Trump, stated on the 5th that US law allows tickets to be resold above face value, and FIFA complies with this regulation.
Infantino pointed out that for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA received over 500 million ticket applications, compared to less than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Infantino also said that 25% of the tickets for the group stage matches are priced under $300.
Fan groups compared the ticket prices for this summer's US World Cup with those hosted by Qatar in 2022.
The most expensive ticket for the 2022 final was priced at $1,600, while this year it has reached approximately $11,000. (Compiled by Chi Chin-ling)
Trump told The New York Post, "I didn't know that number before."
Trump, a billionaire, said, "Of course I want to go and watch it live, but honestly, I wouldn't spend that much money."
The World Cup is set to kick off in June. US lawmakers and international fan groups have strongly criticized the expensive ticket pricing structure; the fan group "Football Supporters Europe" even angrily denounced it as a "serious betrayal."
Trump appeared concerned that low-income Americans would not be able to afford World Cup tickets; this group constitutes an important part of Trump's electorate.
He said, "If people in Queens, Brooklyn, and all of Trump's fans in New York can't go to the games, I'd be disappointed, but you know (the US hosting the World Cup) is also an amazing achievement." He emphasized that he successfully secured the World Cup hosting rights for the US during his first term.
Trump added, "I hope all my fans can get into the games."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is personally close to Trump, stated on the 5th that US law allows tickets to be resold above face value, and FIFA complies with this regulation.
Infantino pointed out that for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA received over 500 million ticket applications, compared to less than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Infantino also said that 25% of the tickets for the group stage matches are priced under $300.
Fan groups compared the ticket prices for this summer's US World Cup with those hosted by Qatar in 2022.
The most expensive ticket for the 2022 final was priced at $1,600, while this year it has reached approximately $11,000. (Compiled by Chi Chin-ling)