Infantino Defends World Cup Ticket Prices Amid Visa Row

Fifa President Gianni Infantino brushed off criticism over World Cup visa issues and sky-high ticket prices on Wednesday in a defiant eve-of-tournament press conference.

Speaking in Mexico City ahead of the World Cup’s opening game at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, Infantino 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 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 – 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 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases,” Infantino said.

“Our average price which is below 500 dollars is again the lowest of the American sports on average.”