unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
President Trump slams World Cup ticket prices saying he 'wouldn't pay'
Home>News>Sport
Published 19:32 7 May 2026 GMT+1

President Trump slams World Cup ticket prices saying he 'wouldn't pay'

Ticket prices for the World Cup final are now over eight times the cost of the 2022 championship

Mia Williams

Mia Williams

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Mandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images

Topics: Sport, Donald Trump, World News, Money

Mia Williams
Mia Williams

Mia is an NCTJ-trained journalist at UNILAD with a BA (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism, reporting across breaking news, US politics, entertainment, health, lifestyle, and more. Before joining as a journalist in 2026, she freelanced across the LADbible Group titles for over three years. She is also a documentary producer, having created independent films, and worked as a researcher on series including Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA.

X

@miawillsjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

President Trump has slammed World Cup ticket prices admitting he 'wouldn't pay', after praising the 'record-setting' number of seats already sold.

The president helped secure the tournament for the US during his first term in the White House, after being re-elected in 2024.

But despite a record-breaking five million tickets having been sold, Trump has called out the astonishing prices soccer fans will be expected to pay ahead of the matches.

Speaking to the New York Post, he said: "I did not know that number.

Advert

"I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you."

The average cost of a ticket to the World Cup final is nearly $13,000, compared to around $1,600 for the 2022 equivalent.

The republican leader claimed that he would be 'disappointed' if working class people who voted for him could not attend the tournament.

President Trump has slammed World Cup ticket prices. (Jia Haocheng - Pool/Getty Images)
President Trump has slammed World Cup ticket prices. (Jia Haocheng - Pool/Getty Images)

"If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success.

"I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go."

But soccer across the world fans have complained that many of the tickets have been purchased by professional re-sellers, who are seeking to make eye-watering profit on the seats.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the costs during an appearance at a conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday (May 5).

He said: "In the US, it is permitted to resell tickets as well, so if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.

Trump hinted his administration would take a look at the ticket pricing. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump hinted his administration would take a look at the ticket pricing. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"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."

FIFA estimated that the World Cup would boost the economy by $30 billion, but this figure is currently falling short of forecasts.

Hotel bookings currently lag far behind ticket sales, as fans complain they cannot afford to attend the games, nor pay for accommodation to stay in the vicinity.

However, according to the Post, the president hinted that his administration could put inflated prices under the microscope.

  • FIFA faces backlash after banning item from World Cup games
  • Iran team hits back at Trump after president made ominous claim about 'safety' at World Cup
  • Trump slams ABC reporter after asking about gas prices and the Iran war
  • Trump shares message to artists dropping out of his Freedom 250 concert as he suggests backup plan

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Why Trump is skipping US opening match of World Cup and what he's doing instead

    Trump will instead be attending a different event

    News
  • Carl Recine/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Fox accused of breaking huge FIFA broadcasting rule in first World Cup 2026 game

    This year's World Cup sees three-minute hydration breaks in each half, but what Fox chose to broadcast during them has led to outrage

    News
  • Getty Stock
    2 hours ago

    How 'game-changing' Wegovy weight-loss pill works as UK approves it for patients

    The UK's medicine regulator approved the Wegovy Pill for use, potentially via its NHS service

    News
  • Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
    2 hours ago

    Mackenzie Shirilla lands new job in prison after sharing surprising career plan for if she's released

    Shirilla was reportedly 'bored as hell' while serving two concurrent sentences for murder

    News