Infantino defends World Cup pricing as fan backlash grows

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing strategy for the 2026 men’s World Cup, arguing the organisation has limited opportunities to generate income and must balance revenue with distribution across its 211 member associations.Speaking at the Semafor World Economy 2026 Annual Convening, Infantino positioned ticketing as part of FIFA’s funding model rather than a stand-alone commercial approach, with the tournament remaining the central engine for its grants and development spend.Infantino said: “The main, and so far the only, revenue-generating event for FIFA is the World Cup. The World Cup takes place one month every four years, so we generate money in one month. "The 47 months until the next World Cup, we spend that money. What many people don’t know… FIFA is a non-for profit organisation, which means all the revenue we generate, we invest them in the organisation of the game, in 211 countries all over the world… so we always try to find the right balance.”He also described the US market as “very special” and suggested the pricing environment should be viewed alongside other premium live entertainment categories, including major concerts and NFL games.The defence comes amid criticism of FIFA’s dynamic pricing approach and the addition of new ticket categories, which supporters’ groups say has created confusion and reduced transparency on availability at the lowest advertised price points.A fans’ coalition and a consumer rights organisation filed a formal complaint with the European Commission in March, alleging excessive pricing and opaque purchasing conditions for European buyers, including limited access to the lowest-cost ticket category and inconsistent disclosure of seat allocations.Infantino referenced a US$60 price tier aimed at “hardcore fans,” saying the category exists across the tournament, including the final, although supporters’ representatives have argued the inventory at that price point has been difficult to access in some phases of sales.Pressure on affordability has also widened beyond ticket prices as host-city mobility plans move into public view, particularly around MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will stage eight matches including the final on July 19.New Jersey officials have confirmed a US$150 round-trip public transport ticket for travel from Manhattan to MetLife on matchdays, alongside an US$80 shuttle option, with the higher fare justified by event operations and security requirements and by restrictions on private vehicle access around the venue.The policy has drawn criticism from New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill, who has argued FIFA should contribute funding to limit the impact on fans and commuters, while FIFA has publicly pushed the position that host city transport can be provided “at cost” and should not become a deterrent.The transport debate intersects with wider stakeholder management ahead of a 48-team, 104-match tournament, with FIFA attempting to protect the event’s positioning as inclusive while adopting revenue-maximising levers typical of US sports and entertainment markets.Infantino has also said FIFA is in discussions with the US, Canadian and Mexican governments on visa and entry processes, including an expedited appointment pathway for eligible ticket holders, as the tournament approaches its key operational milestones.Commercially, the next test for FIFA’s approach will be whether pricing and mobility decisions impact conversion in later ticketing phases, and whether regulatory scrutiny in Europe forces changes to how inventory, categories and consumer conditions are presented ahead of kick-off on June 11.