FIFA's Infantino Draws Backlash for False Claim on US Sports Ticket Prices

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced backlash after defending World Cup ticket prices by comparing them to American sports events.

Infantino spoke at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles this week. He faces criticism over high ticket costs, FIFA's first use of dynamic pricing, and a resale market with some World Cup final seats listed for extreme amounts. The get-in price for USA vs. Paraguay on June 12 tops $1,000. FIFA runs an official resale platform and takes a commission on those sales.

Infantino said, "You cannot go to watch in the U.S. a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300. And this is the World Cup," according to The Times (UK).

The claim drew fire because it misrepresents US ticket prices, especially for group-stage World Cup matches. SeatGeek data shows most group-stage resale get-in prices exceed $300. On FIFA's official site, the cheapest remaining group-stage tickets stood at $380 as of May 1, per the Associated Press. Those prices apply to upper-level seats.

The lowest price for an opening group match, Austria vs. Jordan at Levi's Stadium, hit around $175 as of Wednesday afternoon. That covers poor seats for one of the least appealing group matchups. Brazil vs. Morocco at MetLife Stadium reached over $1,200. Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico topped $2,500, though Infantino focused on US prices.

College football postseason offers a closer comparison to group-stage games than finals. OutKick reported in December that get-in prices for College Football Playoff quarterfinals fell below $300 on SeatGeek. Ohio State-Miami in the Cotton Bowl cost $32. Oregon-Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl was $50. Indiana-Alabama in the Rose Bowl hit $117. Georgia-Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl reached $219.

NFL Wild Card games showed similar patterns. OutKick noted in January that Rams-Panthers and Texans-Steelers had get-in prices under $200 on TickPick. Eagles-49ers and Patriots-Chargers topped $200 slightly. Only Bears-Packers exceeded $300.

Infantino also said 25% of group-stage World Cup tickets cost below $300, per The Times. He added, "We have to look at the market — we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates."

FIFA benefits from high prices. The tournament expands to 48 teams and 104 matches, last held in the US in 1994. The group also takes a 30% cut on its official resale platform.