Trump says he would not pay $1,000 to watch US at World Cup

Lead

US President Donald Trump has said he would not pay $1,000 to watch the United States play Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, joining a wave of criticism over FIFA's ticket pricing for the tournament.

In an interview with The New York Post, Trump said he was unaware that fans might need to pay $1,000 (£736) for a ticket to the Group D match, scheduled for 12 June at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. "I did not know that number," Trump said, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC. "I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you."

The tournament, which runs from 11 June to 19 July, is being co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US men's team will open their campaign against Paraguay, a match that has drawn particular attention due to its high ticket prices.

Coverage comparison

Both Al Jazeera and BBC covered Trump's remarks, with each outlet framing the story around criticism of FIFA's pricing strategy. Al Jazeera noted that FIFA has faced criticism for "inflated" and "sky-high" ticket prices, while BBC described the pricing as "extortionate" in its report. Both outlets quoted Infantino's defense of the pricing, though Al Jazeera provided additional context about the average cost of a final ticket.

The reports also highlighted Trump's broader concern about accessibility, with Trump expressing disappointment that working-class Americans might be priced out. "If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can't go, I would be disappointed," he said, as quoted by both outlets.

Key claims

• Trump's refusal to pay: Trump said he would not pay $1,000 to watch the US play Paraguay, a claim reported by both Al Jazeera and BBC, based on his interview with The New York Post.

• FIFA's pricing criticism: Both outlets reported that FIFA has been criticized for its pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup. BBC noted that, in a departure from recent tournaments, group-stage games were priced based on the perceived popularity of the teams, rather than a flat rate.

• FIFA's resale platform fees: BBC reported that FIFA takes a 30% fee on each ticket sold through its official resale platform, with 15% taken from both the buyer and seller. This detail was not mentioned in Al Jazeera's report.

• Infantino's defense: FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices, saying they were in line with prices for major US sporting events. He noted that 25% of group-stage tickets can be bought for less than $300, according to Al Jazeera. "You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300. And this is the World Cup," Infantino said.

• Final ticket average: Al Jazeera reported that the average cost of a ticket for the World Cup final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is $13,000, compared to $1,600 for the 2022 final in Qatar. This figure was not included in BBC's report.

• Price drops: Al Jazeera noted that ticket prices have dropped for 87 of the 91 matches in the US and Canada over the past 14 days, a detail not mentioned by BBC.

Perspectives

Trump's comments reflect a broader concern about accessibility and affordability of the World Cup for American fans. His remarks, as reported, suggest he is worried that high prices could exclude working-class supporters. "I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go," he said.

FIFA's position, as articulated by Infantino, is that the prices are justified by comparison to other major sporting events in the US. Infantino's defense, quoted by Al Jazeera, emphasizes that the World Cup offers tickets at various price points, including lower-cost options.

Critics, as reflected in the coverage, argue that FIFA's pricing strategy is excessive, particularly given the additional fees on resale transactions and the departure from a flat-rate pricing model used in previous tournaments.

The reports also note that ticket prices have been declining for many matches in recent weeks, which could indicate that FIFA is adjusting to demand. However, the average cost of a final ticket remains significantly higher than in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a point highlighted by Al Jazeera.

While the sources agree on the core facts of Trump's statement and the criticism of FIFA's pricing, they differ in the level of detail provided. BBC's report includes the resale fee structure and the pricing model change, while Al Jazeera offers data on final ticket averages and recent price drops. Neither outlet disputes the accuracy of the reported figures, though some details are carried by only one source.

As the tournament approaches, the debate over ticket prices is likely to continue, with FIFA, fans, and political figures all weighing in on the cost of attending the world's biggest sporting event.