Trump Criticizes High 2026 World Cup Ticket Prices, Hints at Government Action

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his surprise and criticism regarding the significant increase in ticket prices for the United States' opening match at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles. In statements to the New York Post, he considered the demanded amounts to be beyond expectations, hinting that the government might intervene to investigate these prices, which fans have described as exorbitant.

Trump clarified that he would not pay more than $1,000 to attend the anticipated match against Paraguay on June 12. Donald Trump stated, "I would like to be there, but I will not pay that amount, frankly," while also asserting his prior ignorance of the cost, saying, "I was not aware of this amount." This comes as the cheapest ticket on FIFA's official website reached $1,940, while on official resale platforms, prices were around $1,150.

These figures prompted fan associations to file a formal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission, arguing that the current pricing policy lacks fairness. This, in turn, led the U.S. President to hint at the possibility of government investigations into the mechanisms used to determine these prices, especially with the start of the last-minute sales phase on Thursday via FIFA's official website.

For his part, Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, defended the pricing structure, explaining that it reflects the nature of the North American market. He noted that 25% of group stage tickets are available for under $300. FIFA also revealed that approximately 5 million tickets have been sold out of the 7 million available for the global event so far.