The president of FIFA (International Football Federation), Gianni Infantino, defended ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, citing the strong demand and revenue generated for the sport around the world.
This month, fan groups criticized the cost of tickets, which are much more expensive than those for similar matches in the 2022 tournament in Qatar. FIFA then launched a US$60 (R$332) ticket category to make some games more accessible.
“We have six or seven million tickets for sale… In 15 days, we received 150 million ticket requests. So, there are 10 million ticket requests every day. This shows how powerful the World Cup is,” said Infantino, this Monday (29), during the World Sports Summit, in Dubai.
“In the nearly 100-year history of the World Cup, FIFA has sold 44 million tickets in total. So in two weeks we could have filled 300 years of World Cups. Imagine that. That’s absolutely crazy,” he added.
Fans from the United States placed the highest number of ticket requests, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom.
“What’s crucial is that the revenue generated from this is going back into the game around the world,” he said. “Without FIFA there would be no football in 150 countries around the world. There is football because, and thanks to, the revenue we generate from the World Cup, which we reinvest across the world.”
Dubai will host The Best award ceremony
Dubai will host FIFA’s The Best ceremony next year. The award honors the best in football this season, with voting by fans, media representatives, captains and coaches of national teams.
“I can announce here a new partnership that we have entered into together to honor the best players, coaches and teams, here in Dubai,” said Infantino.
French striker Ousmane Dembélé was named men’s player of the year and Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s award in 2025.
