U.S. President Donald Trump has slammed the steep ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, declaring he would not pay $1,000 to see the U.S. team face Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.
Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said he was unaware of the pricing beforehand. “I didn’t know that number. I’d love to be there, but honestly, I wouldn’t pay that either,” he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the cost, arguing it aligns with major U.S. sporting events. “25% of group-stage tickets are under $300. In America, you can’t see a college game, let alone a top pro match, for under $300. And this is the World Cup,” Infantino said.
However, reports show the average price for the July 19 final at East Rutherford, New Jersey, is $13,000—compared to just $1,600 for the 2022 final in Qatar.
Trump worried high prices would shut out working Americans. “If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all those who love Donald Trump can’t go, I’ll be disappointed,” he said of the tournament he helped bring to the U.S. during his first term.
According to TicketData.com, the average group-stage ticket now costs $567, down from $684 two weeks ago and $720 a month ago. But on Ticketmaster, the cheapest pair for the U.S.-Australia match in Seattle on June 19 is $2,725.10, including fees.
On the resale market, FIFA charges a 15% fee to both buyers and sellers. TicketData.com noted that the cheapest tickets have dropped for 87 of the 91 matches in the U.S. and Canada over the past 14 days.
The 2026 World Cup will be held at 16 venues: 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
