United States President Donald Trump says he “wouldn’t pay it either” when asked about the potential $1,000 (£736) ticket price to watch his country play Paraguay in their 2026 World Cup opener.
The competition starts on 11 June and the US, who are co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, will open their campaign in Los Angeles on 12 June.
“I did not know that number,” Trump told The New York Post, external when asked about fans having to pay $1,000 (£736) to watch the USA’s first Group D match.
“I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
Fifa has been criticised for its “extortionate” pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup for which, in a departure from recent tournaments, group-stage games were priced based on the perceived popularity of the teams involved, rather than a flat rate.
Fans also face having to pay vastly inflated prices for most games through Fifa’s official resale platform, while world football’s governing body is taking a 30% fee – 15% each from both the buyer and seller – of each ticket which is sold.
“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,” added Trump.
“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”