2026 FIFA World Cup

[barneygumble]

Gianni Infantino says high World Cup ticket prices are justified in US market

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws

www.theguardian.com

"This is what happens here"
"If someone wants to pay $2m for a ticket, I will personally hand deliver them a drink and hot dog"

The fella thinks hes a bloody politician and celeb all rolled into one.

South Africa was a dire watch in 2010, but this may well be up there with the nail in footballs coffin.

If the CWC was anything to go by, theyll he giving away tickets and call it a "success".

 

[TheBigIguana]

Gianni Infantino says high World Cup ticket prices are justified in US market

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws

www.theguardian.com

"This is what happens here"
"If someone wants to pay $2m for a ticket, I will personally hand deliver them a drink and hot dog"

The fella thinks hes a bloody politician and celeb all rolled into one.

South Africa was a dire watch in 2010, but this may well be up there with the nail in footballs coffin.

If the CWC was anything to go by, theyll he giving away tickets and call it a "success".

Unfortunately for everyone rooting for it to fail it’s not going to. That doesn’t mean it’ll ever have done right by the fans. It doesn’t mean the corruption that slides tons of money into the pockets of FIFA and politicians isn’t going to happen. But the games will be played, they’ll be good, a respectable number of people will attend and for anyone who wants to put everything to one side (and I’m not judging anyone who can’t) it’ll be a great time.

 

[barneygumble]

Unfortunately for everyone rooting for it to fail it’s not going to. That doesn’t mean it’ll ever have done right by the fans. It doesn’t mean the corruption that slides tons of money into the pockets of FIFA and politicians isn’t going to happen. But the games will be played, they’ll be good, a respectable number of people will attend and for anyone who wants to put everything to one side (and I’m not judging anyone who can’t) it’ll be a great time.

You sure? Even with the 32-Team WC there were some stinkers with lower ranked teams.

Tunisia - Denmark a particular lowlight.

"Success", I mean in a revnue expense. By charging the money they have they wiped out any atmosphere. Let alone some of highlights are seeing African, Asian fans having a ball. Half the nations have restrictions on them so you just getting rich persons woth no affiliation, atmosphere will be utter garbage, and its solely on Infantino & Trump (but thats a different matter).

If youre right, fair but in terms of enjoyment? I cant see me being enthralled by Austria - Jordan at 5am, handy for pre-Work though.

 

[Cake]

 

[TheBigIguana]

You sure? Even with the 32-Team WC there were some stinkers with lower ranked teams.

Tunisia - Denmark a particular lowlight.

"Success", I mean in a revnue expense. By charging the money they have they wiped out any atmosphere. Let alone some of highlights are seeing African, Asian fans having a ball. Half the nations have restrictions on them so you just getting rich persons woth no affiliation, atmosphere will be utter garbage, and its solely on Infantino & Trump (but thats a different matter).

If youre right, fair but in terms of enjoyment? I cant see me being enthralled by Austria - Jordan at 5am, handy for pre-Work though.

Yes mate, I do think that it will be remembered positively by football fans. I mean maybe I'm just easy to please, but I've loved every single World Cup. That doesn't mean I've loved every single minute. Largely the matches are going to be good. And while I expect a fair few group stage matches will end up lopsided we are also going to get at least one stunning upset. It'll be really good in the mid-tier imo. Something like Ivory Coast Ecuador or Colombia DR Congo could be a genuinely entertaining match. I think you're strongly underselling the football piece of it.

Unless like I said you just can't move on from the other stuff. And that's totally fair.

There are diasporas from every nation competing in the US already so while the travel stuff really does suck these are not going to be dead atmospheres. Even with the risk of ICE football is football. People are gonna show up.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yes mate, I do think that it will be remembered positively by football fans. I mean maybe I'm just easy to please, but I've loved every single World Cup. That doesn't mean I've loved every single minute. Largely the matches are going to be good. And while I expect a fair few group stage matches will end up lopsided we are also going to get at least one stunning upset. It'll be really good in the mid-tier imo. Something like Ivory Coast Ecuador or Colombia DR Congo could be a genuinely entertaining match. I think you're strongly underselling the football piece of it.

Unless like I said you just can't move on from the other stuff. And that's totally fair.

There are diasporas from every nation competing in the US already so while the travel stuff really does suck these are not going to be dead atmospheres. Even with the risk of ICE football is football. People are gonna show up.

I read a paper this week that a heavy ICE presence causes a significant drop in immigrants showing up to work. If they won't do it to keep food on the table, will they do it for a jolly at the football?

 

[barneygumble]

Yes mate, I do think that it will be remembered positively by football fans. I mean maybe I'm just easy to please, but I've loved every single World Cup. That doesn't mean I've loved every single minute. Largely the matches are going to be good. And while I expect a fair few group stage matches will end up lopsided we are also going to get at least one stunning upset. It'll be really good in the mid-tier imo. Something like Ivory Coast Ecuador or Colombia DR Congo could be a genuinely entertaining match. I think you're strongly underselling the football piece of it.

Unless like I said you just can't move on from the other stuff. And that's totally fair.

There are diasporas from every nation competing in the US already so while the travel stuff really does suck these are not going to be dead atmospheres. Even with the risk of ICE football is football. People are gonna show up.

Simply put, the magic of the World Cup is all 32-Teams making the wholly grail, seeing the magic combo of Nationalities making a great atmosphere.

Even if the games are good, the atmosphere is what makes it, and at a minimum face value of $270 a ticket, the common fan is priced out so who takes their place? Just locals, which is great for persons such as yourself, but what should be a huge moment for Scotland, Curacao, Haiti, Bosnia, DR Congo, Norway etc who have either never qualified or not done so for 30 years+? Has been taken away from them and that's where this world cup will lose its sparkle.

FIFA should have done more to protect fan welfare, and hasnt. There was sinilar chatter re. Qatar 3½ years ago, but the unique setting made that a great world cup... fans being priced out everywhere? $80 for a metro to Foxborough?
The host has been allowed to strip the soul away and watering the product down usually means lesser quality games, but I do hope you're correct, I have huge doubts mind.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I read a paper this week that a heavy ICE presence causes a significant drop in immigrants showing up to work. If they won't do it to keep food on the table, will they do it for a jolly at the football?

In March friendlies involving Colombia and Mexico drew 62k and 52k.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

In March friendlies involving Colombia and Mexico drew 62k and 52k.

How do you know the national makeup of the crowds?

 

[TheBigIguana]

How do you know the national makeup of the crowds?

Have you ever watched a Mexico game in the US?

I mean the answer has to be no or you wouldn’t be asking this question.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/22/sport/mexican-soccer-ice-raids-spt

Didn't the Mexican president also voice concern?

 

[Swartzy]

Have you ever watched a Mexico game in the US?

I mean the answer has to be no or you wouldn’t be asking this question.

Have you ever watched a Gana or Morocco game in the US

 

[wandyr79]

Gianni Infantino says high World Cup ticket prices are justified in US market

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws

www.theguardian.com

"This is what happens here"
"If someone wants to pay $2m for a ticket, I will personally hand deliver them a drink and hot dog"

The fella thinks hes a bloody politician and celeb all rolled into one.

South Africa was a dire watch in 2010, but this may well be up there with the nail in footballs coffin.

If the CWC was anything to go by, theyll he giving away tickets and call it a "success".

Hmm, $2 million to go and pour a drink over him and smash a hot dog in his grid. Anybody want to go fund me .

Disclaimer: This post will prevent me from entering into the US.

 

[wandyr79]

Yes mate, I do think that it will be remembered positively by football fans. I mean maybe I'm just easy to please, but I've loved every single World Cup. That doesn't mean I've loved every single minute. Largely the matches are going to be good. And while I expect a fair few group stage matches will end up lopsided we are also going to get at least one stunning upset. It'll be really good in the mid-tier imo. Something like Ivory Coast Ecuador or Colombia DR Congo could be a genuinely entertaining match. I think you're strongly underselling the football piece of it.

Unless like I said you just can't move on from the other stuff. And that's totally fair.

There are diasporas from every nation competing in the US already so while the travel stuff really does suck these are not going to be dead atmospheres. Even with the risk of ICE football is football. People are gonna show up.

I just think there is just too much going on and too many reason not to go. I would not be surprised if some of the games struggle to get even a quarter full.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I just think there is just too much going on and too many reason not to go. I would not be surprised if some of the games struggle to get even a quarter full.

A quarter is probably an exaggeration, but yeah a few of the matches at the current prices aren’t going to draw full crowds. But this isn’t totally new at world cups and the US isn’t using any 45k capacity stadiums like previous versions to cover that up.