Donald Trump has surprisingly criticised ticket prices for this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, admitting “I wouldn’t pay it either”.
Football’s governing body has been heavily condemned for using dynamic pricing to increase ticket costs exponentially.
Category 3 tickets, the lowest price available to most fans due to the tiny availability of Category 4 seats, stand at $1120 (A$1553) for USA’s opening group game against Paraguay.
And US President Trump, who has built a close relationship with Fifa President Gianni Infantino since returning to office, has made the stunning decision to voice his disapproval at the prices.
In a phone call interview with the New York Post, he said: “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.
“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.”
It comes just days after Infantino defended the World Cup ticket prices, despite admissions to the final appearing on the secondary market for $11.5 million (A$15.94m).
The Swiss, 56, said: “We have to look at the market – we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates.
“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.”
The World Cup gets underway on June 12 (AEST) when Mexico host South Africa, before South Korea take on Czechia.
The following day sees Canada face Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto, before USA take on Paraguay at the Sofi Stadium in California in the first match staged in America.
Spain are favourites to win the tournament ahead of France, England, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal.
