The news report from Epoch Times on May 8, 2026 states that President Trump is unhappy with the high ticket prices for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. He mentioned that even he wouldn’t spend $1000 to watch the opening match between the USA team and Paraguay next month in Los Angeles.
President Trump expressed his surprise at the expensive cost American fans have to pay to attend the soccer match on June 12 in Los Angeles as reported by the New York Post on Thursday, May 7. In a brief phone interview on Wednesday, May 6, he stated, “I don’t know this price. I certainly want to go live, but to be honest, I wouldn’t even buy at this price.”
The President seemed to suggest that his government might carefully review the exorbitant World Cup tickets, expressing concerns that high prices could exclude blue-collar fans who form his base. He mentioned, “I haven’t seen the relevant regulations yet, but I need to study it carefully.” During his first presidential term, he had helped bring the event to the USA.
“If the Queens, Brooklyn, and all Trump supporters cannot go watch, I would be disappointed. At the same time, you know, this event is indeed a great success,” he added. “I hope all those who voted for me can go watch.”
The President stated that the event has been a huge commercial success, praising the record-breaking ticket sales that have already reached 5 million, as reported by FIFA. “I know this is very successful,” he mentioned. “It has broken all records. They have never had such prosperity before.”
However, both domestic and international fans have complained that many tickets have been snatched up by scalpers aiming to make huge profits by reselling them on major platforms.
Before the President’s remarks, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended against criticisms at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills stating, “We must consider the market.” He added, “We are in the most developed entertainment market globally, so we must follow market prices.”
“In the U.S., ticket reselling is allowed, so if you sell tickets too low, they will be resold at a higher price,” he continued. He further mentioned that demand for tickets for this World Cup is expected to reach 500 million.
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in collaboration with the World Trade Organization estimated that the World Cup would bring about an overall economic impact of $300 billion. However, hotel booking rates are significantly lagging behind ticket sales, as reported by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA).
A survey conducted by AHLA showed that in 11 host cities in the USA, nearly 80% of hotel occupancy rates are below expectations for the World Cup, with only about six weeks left until the opening on June 11.
The report from AHLA revealed that over 5 million tickets have already been sold, yet hotel bookings have not kept pace and are lower than initially anticipated. Industry insiders attribute visa delays, high travel costs, and geopolitical issues as key factors resulting in a slowdown in foreign demand.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams playing a record 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The tournament will run until July 19, with the final match to be held at MetLife Stadium in New York.