The anticipation surrounding the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in North America, has reached stratospheric levels. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, revealed in a recent interview that all 104 matches of the tournament will be played in front of sold-out crowds. “The demand is extremely high. All the matches are sold out,” Infantino told CNBC, highlighting that “some tickets are still being reserved for last-minute sales.”
The numbers are impressive: during the second phase of ticket sales, which ended last month, there were a staggering 508 million requests over four weeks for around seven million available tickets, coming from more than 200 countries. “We have never seen anything like it, it’s incredible,” Infantino celebrated, emphasizing the magnitude of global interest in the event.
The last-minute ticket sales phase, as revealed by the FIFA president, will begin in April and will extend until the final of the tournament, scheduled for July 19. However, criticism regarding the ticket prices, deemed “exorbitant” by fan associations, has not gone unnoticed. Infantino defended himself, explaining that “it’s like having 104 editions of the Super Bowl in a single month,” which, naturally, affects the prices.
He detailed that “ticket prices have already been set, but there is a system called dynamic pricing, especially in the United States, which means that prices can go up or down depending on demand and the game.” Additionally, fans have the option to resell their tickets on official platforms, which can cause prices to spike again. “This is part of the market,” he emphasized.
The 2026 World Cup, which will be the largest in history with 48 teams competing in three countries, is expected to generate an estimated revenue of 11 billion dollars for FIFA. Infantino did not hesitate to state that “it might be a little more” than that. However, he assured that “every dollar will be reinvested in football in the 211 member countries.”
In addition to the direct financial impact for FIFA, Infantino mentioned that the World Cup will have a significant effect on the economy of the United States, estimating an impact of approximately 30 billion dollars in tourism, food services, security, and related investments. With an event of this magnitude on the horizon, the sports world is eagerly awaiting not only the games but also the economic spectacle that will accompany this historic edition of the tournament.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
