United States President Donald Trump stated that he “would not pay it either” when questioned about the potential $1,000 (£736) ticket price to watch the USA face Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
The tournament begins on June 11, and the United States, co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico, will start their campaign in Los Angeles on June 12.
“I was not aware of that figure,” Trump told The New York Post when asked about fans needing to pay $1,000 to attend the USA’s first Group D match. “I would certainly like to be there, but honestly, I wouldn’t pay it either.”
FIFA has faced criticism for its pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup, which—unlike recent tournaments—prices group-stage tickets based on the perceived popularity of the teams involved rather than a flat rate. Fans also encounter sharply inflated prices for most games through FIFA’s official resale platform, where the governing body takes a 30% fee (15% from both buyer and seller) on each transaction.
Trump added, “If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all those who love Donald Trump cannot attend, I would be disappointed. But at the same time, it’s an amazing success. I would like the people who voted for me to be able to go.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the ticket costs, stating they are comparable to other major U.S. sporting events. “In the U.S., it is permitted to resell tickets. If tickets are sold at too low a price, they will be resold at much higher prices,” Infantino said on Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.
Following criticism of its pricing structure after the initial ticket release, FIFA introduced a limited number of “more affordable” £45 tickets for all 104 matches.
World Cup matches in Toronto can only be sold at their original price due to a recent ban by the Ontario government on reselling event tickets above face value.
Fans are also facing increased transport costs for the tournament in the U.S., though controversial prices were reduced in New Jersey. A 30-minute train ride to a World Cup game at MetLife Stadium had surged to $150 (£111) from the usual $12.90 (£9.50) for a return fare, but that has now dropped by 30%. The price for an approximately 18-mile journey from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the New Jersey venue will now be $105 (£77).
New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri noted that Governor Mikie Sherrill had requested private sponsorships and other funding sources to help reduce the ticket price. “I am pleased we could lower the price by at least 30% to $105 per ticket,” Kolluri said.
