President Donald Trump has sounded off on the skyrocketing ticket prices for this summer's FIFA World Cup, admitting that even he wouldn't pay the steep costs to attend. In a recent phone interview with The New York Post, Trump expressed surprise upon learning that American soccer fans are facing four-figure price tags for even the cheapest seats.

"I did not know that number," Trump said. "I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn't pay it either, to be honest with you."

Ticket resale platforms like StubHub are listing the most affordable tickets for the U.S.-Paraguay match on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles starting at $1,056. That's a hefty sum compared to the $876 low for England vs. Panama on June 27 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, or the $750 being asked for France vs. Senegal on June 16 at the same venue.

The tournament, running from June 11 to July 19 across more than a dozen cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has already sold five million tickets—a record, according to Trump. "They've never had anything like it," he said.

But the president also voiced concern that his own supporters might be priced out. "If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can't go, I would be disappointed," he said. "I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go."

Frustration over ticket costs is building globally. Soccer author Andrés Martinez noted that the sport's populist ideals are fading. "Global football still tries to adhere to this idea of a more populist aspiration about the accessibility of the game. That's basically become a fiction," he told The Hill, calling it "the corporatization of World Cups on steroids."

For context, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw the most expensive final ticket at roughly $1,600 face value. This year, top-priced final tickets are even higher, sparking debate about affordability and access. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, these numbers are a reminder that the beautiful game is becoming an increasingly pricey passion.