FIFA President Gianni Infantino has justified the steep rise in World Cup ticket costs, citing record-breaking demand and the legal framework of the host nation.
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Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino explained that the pricing reflects the immense interest in the tournament and noted that FIFA is utilizing U.S. laws that permit tickets to be resold far above their original face value.
The defense comes as fan groups, such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE), condemn the pricing as “extortionate” and a “betrayal” of supporters.
The backlash has escalated into legal action, with FSE filing a lawsuit with the European Commission over the excessive costs.
The scale of the increase is highlighted by listings on FIFA’s own resale platform, where tickets for the final have been priced at over $2 million each—a stark contrast to the rates seen during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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