US President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the high price of a ticket for the first match of the United States at the 2026 World Cup, which was offered for over $1,000, stating to the New York Post that he “would not pay” that amount to attend the game.
“I was not aware of this amount,” said Donald Trump, who was questioned on Wednesday, May 6th, by the tabloid about the ticket prices for the match against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The cheapest ticket is displayed at $1,940 (1,650 euros) on the FIFA sales website, and $1,150 (980 euros) on the FIFA resale platform.
“I would love to be there but I would not pay that, to be honest,” he added, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing for the event, which he believes reflects the North American “market.”
“I would like the people who voted for me to be able to go”
FIFA’s chief also reminded that 25% of the tickets for the group stage were under $300. The US President also suggested that the government could look into the ticket prices, which were considered exorbitant by supporters who filed a complaint against FIFA with the European Commission.
“I have not seen that but I should look into it,” he said. “I would like the people who voted for me to be able to go (…) If the people from Queens and Brooklyn who love Donald Trump cannot (attend the matches) I would be disappointed but at the same time it’s an incredible success,” explained the former real estate tycoon from New York.
5 million tickets sold
“I know (the tournament) is a huge success, breaking all records, and (FIFA) has never experienced something like this,” reassured Donald Trump, just over a month before the start of the extraordinary tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 (48 teams, 104 matches).
FIFA has sold about 5 million tickets out of the 7 million available, and a new “last-minute” sales phase opened on Thursday on the official website of the organization. More tickets will continue to be put on sale regularly until the final on July 19, according to the global organization.
