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'Deeply concerned' American lawmakers demand Fifa slash World Cup ticket prices with just weeks until kickoff
LAWMAKERS in Washington have called on Fifa to slash ticket prices ahead of next month’s World Cup.
New Jersey democrats Nellie Pou and Frank Pallone Jr. penned an open letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino on Thursday.
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It comes as supporters fear having to break the bank to attend the tournament being held across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Fifa said tickets for the July’s final at MetLife Stadium would cost a maximum of $1,550.
But some tickets are being sold for up to $10,990 in category 1, before resale even comes into play.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that Fifa is employing opaque pricing, shifting rules, and potentially deceptive practices that are making it difficult for fans to access seats,” the open letter penned by Pou and Pellone read.
“We write seeking more information about these ticketing practices, including how Fifa is ensuring that the World Cup is affordable for all fans and responding to fans who feel misled.
“Tickets are reportedly being held back for matches, creating the appearance of limited availability even when large numbers remain unsold.”
Infantino claimed earlier this week that a quarter of tickets for the group stages are priced under $300.
“You cannot go to watch in the U.S. a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” he claimed.
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“And this is the World Cup.”
But even President Trump wasn’t impressed by that argument.
“I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you,” Trump told the New York Post when he learned the ‘get in’ price for Team USA’s opener was $1,000.
There is no standard set price across North America’s 16 venues of this summer’s tournament.
Prices are instead set by demand, location, and whatever takes place on the secondary market.
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“We have to look at the market,” Infantino said earlier this month.
“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.
“Even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double our price.”
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The World Cup will kickoff with Mexico facing South Africa on Thursday, June 11.