The president of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed his surprise at the high cost of tickets for the 2026 World Cup and assured that he himself would not pay more than $1,000 to attend a US team match.
Trump specifically reacted to the price of tickets for the match between the United States and Paraguay, scheduled for June 12 in Los Angeles. According to the official FIFA platform, the cheapest ticket for that commitment reaches $1,940.
“I was not aware of that amount,” Trump told the New York Post. “I would love to be there, but I wouldn’t pay that, to be honest,” he added.
The statements come amid growing criticism of the pricing policy implemented by FIFA for the World Cup that will be jointly organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19, 2026.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently defended the cost of tickets, arguing that it responds to the dynamics of the American entertainment market. In addition, he maintained that 25% of the tickets for the group stage were sold for less than $300.
Trump also left open the possibility that his administration review the situation, after fan groups filed a complaint with the European Commission for considering ticket prices “exorbitant.”
“I would like the people who voted for me to be able to go,” commented the president. “If people from Queens and Brooklyn who support Donald Trump cannot attend, I would be disappointed,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Trump recognized the enormous commercial impact of the tournament and stated that the World Cup “is breaking all records” for demand and sales.
FIFA reported that approximately five million of the seven million tickets available for the tournament have already been sold and this week it opened a new last-minute sales phase on its official portal.
