​Trump: USMNT World Cup Opener Tickets Cost $1,120? I Wouldn't Buy Them Either

May 8 – US President Donald Trump has responded to ticket prices for the US Men's National Team's World Cup opener against Paraguay in June, saying he "wouldn't buy them either."

Earlier, The Athletic reported that ticket sales for the USMNT's opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles were trailing behind those of other matches.

FIFA, world football's governing body, has faced heavy criticism over ticket prices for this summer's World Cup. For the USA vs. Paraguay match, the cheapest tickets were initially priced as high as $1,120.

Now, President Trump, who has close ties with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has weighed in.

"I didn't know the figure," the US President said in an exclusive interview with the New York Post. "I would certainly like to go, but to be honest, I wouldn't buy them either."

The White House declined to comment further when approached by The Athletic.

Speaking this week at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino defended FIFA's World Cup ticket pricing. This year's tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

He added: "Actually, 25% of the group stage tickets are sold for less than $300. In the US, you cannot buy a single ticket for a college game, let alone top professional events – and this is the World Cup!"

"We are in the most developed market for entertainment in the world, so we have to apply market pricing.

"Resale is also permitted in the US, so if you sell tickets too cheaply, they will be resold at higher prices."

Although Trump expressed some concern over the high prices in his New York Post interview, the 79-year-old reiterated that ticket sales – which Infantino said last month had reached "around 5 million" – had been "very successful".

"I haven't seen it, but I'll have to look into it," the US President added. "I'd be disappointed if people from Queens, Brooklyn, and everyone who loves Donald Trump couldn't go. But at the same time, you know, it's a tremendous success."

"I hope everyone who voted for me can go."

"I know it's been very successful," Trump said of ticket sales so far. "It's broken all records. They've never seen anything like this before."

Source: The New York Times