FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the high ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, asserting that they are a reflection of market demand in the U.S. Infantino's comments came amid criticism from fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which labeled the pricing as 'extortionate' and filed a lawsuit with the European Commission over excessive ticket costs. Infantino noted that FIFA's resale website recently listed tickets for the July 19 final in New York at prices exceeding $2 million each. He emphasized that while some tickets may appear on the resale market at inflated prices, it does not mean they will sell at that price. The most expensive ticket for the 2026 final is set at about $11,000, a significant increase from the $1,600 price for the 2022 final in Qatar. Infantino highlighted that FIFA received over 500 million requests for tickets for the upcoming tournament, compared to fewer than 50 million for the previous two World Cups combined. He also pointed out that 25% of group phase tickets are priced below $300, arguing that attending the World Cup remains a valuable experience compared to other sporting events in the U.S.