FIFA chief Infantino defends visa handling and ticket prices ahead of World Cup

The biggest sporting event on the planet starts tomorrow, and FIFA’s president spent today playing defense. Gianni Infantino held a press conference on June 10, one day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America, addressing two of the loudest criticisms dogging the tournament: visa problems and eye-watering ticket prices.

The visa problem FIFA says it can’t fix

Infantino acknowledged the case of a Somali referee who was denied a US visa. FIFA cannot overrule government decisions on who gets in and who doesn’t, Infantino said.

Ticket prices: from $60 to $33,000

Ticket prices for the World Cup final can range from $10,990 all the way up to $32,970. Hospitality packages push past $73,200. Infantino’s defense was straightforward: the prices reflect market demand. He pointed out that entry-level tickets start at $60 and that the average ticket price sits below $500. Infantino also argued that higher prices serve a secondary purpose: deterring scalpers.

The $11 billion tournament

Infantino projected that the 2026 tournament will generate over $11 billion in revenue, encompassing broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, ticket sales, hospitality packages, and licensing. More than 150 million ticket requests poured in for the tournament. The expansion to 48 teams, up from 32 in previous tournaments, means more matches and more broadcasting hours. The three-country hosting format spans the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Infantino’s press conference contained zero references to cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, or digital assets of any kind. That’s a notable contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which featured Crypto.com as an official sponsor.

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