FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, citing unprecedented demand with 150 million requests for six to seven million tickets in 15 days. He stated that revenues generated are crucial for global football development, reinvesting in 150 countries. This comes after fan groups criticized prices as significantly higher than the 2022 World Cup. FIFA introduced a $60 ticket tier to improve accessibility, with the US, Germany, and the UK showing the highest demand.