US President Donald Trump has said he would not pay more than $1,000 to attend a World Cup match involving the United States, adding to growing criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 tournament. Speaking in an interview, Trump said the costs appeared too high for many ordinary fans and suggested that major sporting events should remain accessible to the public.
The comments come as FIFA faces increasing backlash from supporters and fan groups over rising prices connected to the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Some hospitality packages and premium tickets have reportedly reached extremely high prices, leading to concerns that many supporters could be priced out of attending matches.
Fan organizations and some lawmakers have criticised FIFA’s pricing structure, arguing that the tournament risks becoming overly commercialised. FIFA has defended its ticketing approach, saying prices vary depending on seating categories and demand, while insisting efforts are being made to keep matches accessible to a wide audience.
