Infantino’s Perspective on Pricing
During his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing structure for the upcoming World Cup. He argued that the cost of entry is competitive when compared to major sports events in the United States, specifically citing American college football.
According to Infantino, a significant portion of the entry-level tickets for the group stage matches are priced below $300. He stated: «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.»
Contextualizing the Comparison
While the initial remarks caused confusion, a FIFA representative later clarified that the president was drawing a parallel to high-profile postseason and championship games in college football, rather than regular-season matches. While entry-level tickets for many collegiate games can be found for significantly less than $300, major championship events frequently see resale prices surge into the thousands.
Addressing Market Dynamics and Resale
Infantino emphasized that as a nonprofit organization, FIFA relies on the World Cup to generate the revenue necessary to fund global soccer initiatives over the subsequent four-year cycle. He acknowledged the influence of the U.S. entertainment market on pricing strategies.
Regarding the controversy over exorbitant resale prices, Infantino pointed out that his organization does not dictate secondary market costs. He noted that the resale environment is inherent to the U.S. market, stating:
«We are in a market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates. In the U.S., it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets would be resold at a much higher price.»
FIFA's Role in the Secondary Market
FIFA currently facilitates a resale platform where it collects a 15% commission from both the buyer and the seller. Infantino addressed the extreme asking prices sometimes seen on these platforms, suggesting that high listings do not necessarily correlate with actual sales. He jokingly remarked that if anyone were to pay $2 million for a final ticket, he would personally ensure they were well-fed at the stadium.