FIFA President Gianni Infantino has disclosed that the organization is applying market rates in the sale of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The official FIFA resale website recently advertised four tickets to the final at $2.3 million each. Although FIFA does not control the asking prices on its resale site, it charges a 15% purchase fee from the buyer and a 15% resale fee from the seller. This means FIFA would earn $690,000 if one of the tickets sold at $2.3 million.

Addressing concerns about the exorbitant prices while speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino explained that resale practices contribute to higher prices compared to the standard tickets initially sold.

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“We have to look at the market. We are in the most developed entertainment market in the world, so we have to apply market rates. In the US it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at a price that is too low, these tickets would be resold at a much higher price."

"And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double our price,” he said, as reported by The Guardian.

Infantino also clarified that the prices displayed on resale websites do not necessarily mean tickets will sell at those amounts.

“If some people put tickets for the final on the resale market at $2 million, number one it doesn’t mean the tickets cost $2 million. And number two it doesn’t mean somebody will buy them. And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million, I will personally bring him a hotdog and a Coke to make sure he has a great experience.”

This comes amid strong criticisms from fans, journalists, and major stakeholders in the sporting sector, who accuse FIFA of profiteering from outrageous ticket prices.

SB/JE

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