Fifa boss says pricey World Cup tickets are saving global football and fans are furious

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the sharply rising cost of World Cup tickets, insisting the revenue is critical to sustaining football far beyond the sport’s wealthiest nations.

The comments come amid growing criticism after ticket prices for the 2026 men’s World Cup were revealed, making them the most expensive in the tournament’s history and triggering debate over affordability and access.

Backlash over record prices

According to The Athletic, FIFA has faced sustained scrutiny since the ticket figures were made public, with fans and commentators questioning whether the expanded tournament is becoming inaccessible to ordinary supporters.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and critics argue that soaring prices risk undermining the event’s global appeal, particularly for long time fans who traditionally travel to matches.

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Infantino defends Fifa’s financial model

Speaking in Dubai at the World Sports Summit on Monday, Infantino addressed the issue publicly for the first time since the prices were announced. According to The Athletic, he said income generated by the World Cup is redistributed throughout the sport rather than retained by Fifa.

“What’s crucial is that the revenues that are generated from this are going back to the game all over the world,” said the 55,year old.

He explained that ticket sales are part of a broader financial structure that funds football development programs well beyond elite competitions.

A claim about football’s global survival

Infantino went further by linking Fifa’s commercial success directly to the existence of the sport in many countries. According to reporting by The Athletic, he argued that World Cup revenue underpins football infrastructure in large parts of the world.

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“Without Fifa, there would be no football in 150 countries in the world,” he said. “There is football because, and thanks to, these revenues we generate with, and from, the World Cup, which we reinvest all over the world.”

Debate over who the World Cup is really for

While Fifa maintains that higher prices ultimately benefit the global game, critics say the strategy risks alienating supporters and shifting the tournament further toward corporate audiences.

The dispute has highlighted a growing tension between football’s commercial expansion and its traditional fan base, a debate that is likely to intensify as the 2026 tournament approaches.

Sources, The Athletic

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