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FIFA NOT ‘KINGS OF THE WORLD’
The Straits Times
|June 12, 2026
Chief dismisses visa row, hails Trump’s support and defends Cup ticket prices
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino brushed off criticism over World Cup visa issues and sky-high ticket prices on June 10 in a defiant eve-of-tournament press conference.
Speaking in Mexico City ahead of the World Cup’s opening game at the Azteca Stadium on June 1, the world football supremo launched a spirited defence of the organisation of the 48-team extravaganza being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino and FIFA have come in for stinging criticism over the eye-watering costs of World Cup tickets, while US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has seen a top referee, Iranian team officials, and fans refused entry to the United States.
Infantino insisted that tickets to the tournament - which in some cases have topped US$30,000 (S$38,600) — had been priced appropriately, citing a small number of US$60 tickets that were made available in response to criticism.
“Let me just say that our entry price, which is US$60, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases,” Infantino said.
“Our average price which is below US$500 is again the lowest of the American sports on average.”
This story is from the June 12, 2026 edition of The Straits Times.
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