Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices Amidst Criticism

Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices Amidst Criticism

Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices Amidst Criticism

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing of World Cup tickets, attributing the costs to the "absolutely crazy" demand for the upcoming tournament next summer.

The ticket pricing for the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has faced significant backlash, with the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) labeling it as "scandalous."

Group stage tickets are reportedly priced up to three times higher than those for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, with the lowest ticket for the final in New Jersey costing £3,119.

Infantino emphasized that the demand for tickets far exceeds the available supply. "We have six to seven million tickets on sale, and in just 15 days, we received 150 million ticket requests," Infantino stated at the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday. "That's about 10 million requests every single day, which illustrates the immense popularity of the World Cup."

He further noted, "In the nearly 100 years of the World Cup's history, FIFA has sold a total of 44 million tickets. Therefore, in just two weeks, we could have filled 300 years' worth of World Cups. Imagine that. This is absolutely crazy."

In response to the criticism regarding ticket prices, FIFA has introduced a limited number of "more affordable" tickets priced at £45 for all 104 matches. A FIFA official involved in the discussions remarked, "We have listened to feedback, and this new category is the right thing to do."

Infantino assured that the revenue generated from ticket sales will be reinvested into football globally, although he did not specify the exact amount. "What is crucial is that the revenues generated from this are returned to the game worldwide," Infantino said. "Without FIFA, there would be no football in 150 countries. Football exists because of the revenues we generate from the World Cup, which we reinvest globally."

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