Trump calls $1,000 USA World Cup opener ticket price unreasonable

Donald Trump stated he would not pay the $1,000 ticket price for the USA's 2026 World Cup opener against Paraguay.

Trump speaks on ticket prices United States President Donald Trump expressed his opinion on the potential $1,000 (£736) ticket price for the USA's first Group D match against Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup. When questioned about the cost, he replied, 'I did not know that number.' He further stated, 'I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you.' The tournament begins on June 11, with the USA co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico. ## FIFA's pricing strategy criticized FIFA has faced backlash for its pricing approach at the 2026 World Cup, which departs from recent tournaments by charging different rates for group-stage games based on team popularity rather than a fixed price. Fans may encounter significantly higher prices on FIFA's official resale platform, where the governing body takes a 30% fee—split equally between buyer and seller—on each ticket sold. ## Trump on fan access and disappointment Donald Trump acknowledged that supporters who backed him might struggle to afford the tickets, saying, 'If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can't go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it's an amazing success.' He expressed a desire for his voters to attend the matches, adding, 'I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.' ## Infantino defends ticket costs FIFA President Gianni Infantino justified the ticket prices, stating they align with other major sporting events in the US. He noted that resale is permitted, meaning low initial prices could lead to much higher secondary market costs. Infantino made these remarks on Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills. Following early criticism, FIFA later introduced a limited number of £45 tickets for all 104 matches. ## Canada’s ticket sale restrictions In Toronto, World Cup matches can only be sold at their original face value due to Ontario’s recent ban on reselling event tickets above initial cost. However, fans in the US also face rising transportation expenses for the tournament. BBC Sport previously calculated that an England supporter would need roughly £6,500 to attend all of their country’s group-stage fixtures.