Infantino’s joke reignites anger over World Cup ticket prices
As FIFA prepares for the expanded tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, questions about affordability and leadership tone continue to follow the organisation.
A remark that overshadowed the message
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, FIFA president Gianni Infantino reflected on criticism that surrounded the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. According to Sky Sports, he told delegates that many concerns faded once the tournament began and matches were underway.
“When the ball started rolling and the magic started we had virtually no incidents,” Infantino said while describing what he viewed as the event’s success.
He then added a comment aimed at British supporters, saying, “For the first time in history also, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special.”
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The joke quickly attracted attention, shifting focus away from FIFA’s broader defence of its upcoming tournament.
Claims challenged by historical record
Infantino’s remark was criticised in the UK, in part because it was factually incorrect. Sky Sports reported that British fans were also not arrested during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
During Qatar 2022, England supporters were widely praised for their conduct, with their behaviour described as impeccable. Even at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where arrests did take place, UK police later clarified that many were preventative measures rather than responses to disorder.
England and Wales were the only British nations to qualify for the 2022 tournament.
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Ticket prices fuel wider frustration
The comments came amid ongoing debate about ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup. According to Sky Sports, FIFA’s original pricing structure included increases of up to 500 percent compared with Qatar 2022.
Supporter organisations across several countries accused FIFA of pricing out traditional fans. In response, the governing body announced a revised system that includes a limited number of tickets priced at £45.
Those tickets are available only through national football associations and account for roughly 10 percent of each federation’s allocation, representing less than one percent of total stadium capacity.
Supporters push back at FIFA leadership
Fan groups argue the changes do not go far enough, particularly given FIFA’s financial outlook. Sky Sports reported that the organisation is expected to generate close to £10bn in revenue between 2023 and 2026.
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The Football Supporters Association responded directly to Infantino’s comments, saying, “While we’ve got Mr Infantino’s attention, we’d like to point out that rather than making cheap jokes about our fans, he should concentrate on making cheap tickets.”
For many supporters, the episode reinforced broader concerns about FIFA’s priorities as the next World Cup approaches.
Sources: Sky Sports
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