Trump Claims FIFA World Cup Tickets Are Expensive, Says Average Americans May Miss Tournament

The United States President Donald Trump has raised concerns over the soaring cost of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that many average Americans could be unable to attend matches.

Trump made the remarks in an interview published on Thursday by the New York Post while reacting to reports that tickets for the United States’ opening World Cup match were selling for more than $1,000.

“I did not know that number,” the billionaire Trump told the New York Post, adding, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”

The comments come amid growing criticism from lawmakers and football supporters over FIFA’s pricing structure ahead of the tournament scheduled to begin in June.

Football Supporters Europe had earlier described the ticket prices as a “monumental betrayal.”

Trump said he would be disappointed if working-class Americans and many of his supporters were priced out of attending the competition.

“If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success.”

“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go,” added Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for helping secure the World Cup for the United States during his first term in office.

Trump is known to have a close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who defended the pricing structure earlier this week.

Infantino said FIFA was taking advantage of United States laws that allow tickets to be resold at prices far above their original value.

According to him, FIFA has already received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 tournament, compared with fewer than 50 million combined requests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He also stated that 25 per cent of group-stage tickets were priced below $300.

Supporters’ groups have compared the 2026 ticket prices with those of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

While the most expensive ticket for the 2022 final sold for about $1,600 at face value, the equivalent ticket for the 2026 final is expected to cost around $11,000. (SaharaReporters)