FIFA's pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup has been under fire for months, and now an unexpected critic has entered the conversation: U.S. President Donald Trump. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly defended the ticket prices for the tournament set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Trump's recent remarks have added a new layer of tension to the controversy.

Infantino has long insisted that the high costs reflect market demand, global financial realities, and the tournament's importance as FIFA's primary revenue driver. He's downplayed complaints about affordability, arguing that resale policies in the U.S.—rather than FIFA's face values—are inflating prices on the secondary market. But when Trump was asked about the cost of attending the U.S. men's national team's opening match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, his response was blunt.

According to The Athletic, the cheapest available ticket for that match is currently $1,120. When informed of this figure during an interview with the New York Post, Trump admitted surprise. "I did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you," he said.

Those words could create an awkward dynamic for FIFA, as Infantino has consistently stood by the organization's pricing structure despite growing backlash from soccer fans worldwide. The FIFA president has emphasized that the World Cup generates essential revenue for soccer development projects in over 100 countries, making tournament profits a cornerstone of the sport's global growth.

For fans hoping to catch the action live, the sticker shock is real—and now, even the President of the United States is echoing their sentiments. Whether this will force FIFA to reconsider its approach remains to be seen, but for now, the debate over who can afford to attend the world's biggest sporting event is far from over.