Donald Trump has said he “wouldn’t pay” four-figure sums to attend 2026 World Cup matches, expressing his hope that those who voted for him will be able to afford to attend the tournament.
His remarks come as tickets for the United States’ opening match against Paraguay have reached prices of $1,000 or more, reports Guardian.
The high costs are a result of “dynamic pricing,” a mechanism being used for the first time in the nearly century-old history of the World Cup.
This system, which is already common practice for high-demand events in the US, allows ticket prices to fluctuate based on market demand.
The comments from Trump followed a formal defence of the pricing strategy by the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino. Speaking on the matter, Infantino argued that the tournament must adapt to the specific economic environment of the host nation.
“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,” Infantino stated.
He further explained that because ticket reselling is permitted in the US, setting initial prices too low would simply result in tickets being resold at much higher prices by third parties.
In related developments concerning the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), midfielder Cardoso has been labelled a “major doubt” for the upcoming World Cup after sustaining an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, the 2026 World Cup continues to draw significant attention as the first tournament to implement these market-driven pricing models, even as football organisations and fans seek more control over tournament logistics and costs.
