Infantino defends ticket pricing and visa policies ahead of World Cup opener

FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference in Mexico City on the eve of the 2026 World Cup opening match, defending the tournament’s pricing structure and addressing visa controversies involving the United States. Infantino cited a $60 entry price and an average cost below $500 to justify ticket costs, despite some hospitality packages exceeding $30,000 and ongoing investigations by US state attorneys general. He also downplayed the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan due to security concerns and credited US President Donald Trump with facilitating the event’s organisation.

Infantino insisted that the $60 entry fee represented the lowest entry price for any American sports in the play-off phases, asserting that the average ticket price below $500 was the lowest among major American sporting events. He dismissed complaints about ticket pricing as being based on a minimal number of issues, arguing that demand had been unprecedented. The FIFA leader also addressed investigations into ticket pricing launched by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, stating they were founded on too few complaints to reflect the broader market.

The press conference also touched on the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the US due to security concerns. The US State Department later confirmed that Artan had associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations, leading to his confirmation that he would not officiate at the tournament. Infantino described the situation as unfortunate but urged stakeholders to remain calm, suggesting that immediate outrage often hindered the process of finding solutions.

Infantino portrayed Iran’s participation at the World Cup, despite military conflict with the US, as a victory for FIFA’s organisational efforts. He credited US President Donald Trump with playing a critical role in the event's preparations, stating that the tournament would have been impossible without his engagement. Trump confirmed he plans to attend some World Cup matches, praising the scale of the event during a separate statement.

Concurrent to the press conference, authorities managed social unrest in Mexico City ahead of the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa. Protesters blocked avenues near the Estadio Azteca, but police prevented them from reaching the stadium. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that everything was under control despite the demonstrations. Meanwhile, weather delays impacted England’s warm-up fixture in Florida, where a thunderstorm delayed the match against Costa Rica before England secured a 3-0 victory.