FIFA receives 150 million World Cup ticket requests, Infantino defends pricing

DUBAI: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, saying unprecedented demand underlined the tournament’s global appeal.

Infantino said FIFA had received 150 million ticket requests in 15 days for next year’s World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“We have six to seven million tickets on sale and in 15 days we received 150 million requests – around 10 million a day. It shows how powerful the World Cup is,” he said while speaking at the World Sports Summit in Dubai.

Infantino said that in nearly a century of World Cup history, FIFA had sold a total of 44 million tickets, adding that current demand could “fill 300 years of World Cups”.

Fans from the United States submitted the highest number of requests, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom.

The FIFA chief also defended pricing after fan groups criticised higher ticket costs compared to the 2022 edition, noting the addition of a $60 ticket category to improve accessibility.

He said revenues generated from ticket sales were reinvested globally.

“Without FIFA there would be no football in 150 countries. There is football because of the revenues we generate from the World Cup which we reinvest around the world,” he said.

Dubai to host FIFA Best Awards next year

Infantino also announced that Dubai will host the next edition of the FIFA Best Awards, which honour outstanding men’s and women’s players, coaches and teams.

“I can announce a new partnership to honour the best players, coaches and teams here in Dubai,” he said.

France forward Ousmane Dembele won the men’s best player award this year, while Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s honour.