Rabat – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the 2026 World Cup will be played in front of sold‑out crowds.
He told CNBC that FIFA has already received more than one million ticket requests for 77 of the 104 matches scheduled across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Infantino said overall demand has reached 508 million ticket requests for the around seven million seats available. FIFA insists these requests are genuine, validated by credit card data, though critics suspect automated bots may inflate the numbers.
The announcement came during Infantino’s appearance at the World Liberty Forum, an invite‑only event held at US President Donald Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago resort in Florida.
The conference featured business leaders, investors, and celebrities, including Chelsea co‑owner Behdad Eghbali, AC Milan’s Gerry Cardinale, and artist Nicki Minaj. Infantino was seen wearing a USA baseball cap marked with “45” and “47,” a nod to Trump’s presidential terms.
Ticketing backlash
Ticketing has already drawn sharp backlash. Supporters’ groups have called record‑high prices a “monumental betrayal,” while politicians such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized FIFA for alienating fans unable to afford the skyrocketing fees.
When asked about the risk of pricing people out, Infantino said demand proves it is not a problem. “Every match is already sold out,” he claimed, though FIFA later clarified he meant they expect all games to sell out, not that tickets are gone.
Infantino also projected massive financial returns. He said FIFA revenues will exceed $11 billion, while the U.S. economy could see $30 billion in impact.
Analysts often treat such figures with caution, but FIFA will profit further through its resale platform, charging 15 percent commission to both buyers and sellers.
He added that requests have come from more than 200 countries. “Everyone wants to be part of something special,” Infantino said. “People are tired of negativity. They want to celebrate, have fun, and feel something positive.”
The comments continue a pattern of Infantino’s close ties with Trump. He recently attended Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace meeting and in December 2025, was awarded FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.
Advocacy group FairSquare has filed a complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, accusing Infantino of breaching political neutrality.
Read also: Infantino Defends Trump, Warns Boycotts Could Fuel Hatred Ahead of 2026 World Cup
