The Price of a Ticket to the World Cup: Football's Betrayal of its Fans
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: football has abandoned its fans in the pursuit of profits. The latest example? A ticket to the US final will cost £3,120 – seven times more than the cheapest ticket for the last World Cup final in Qatar.
Fifa's president Gianni Infantino and his predecessor have made it crystal clear that their priority is not the well-being of fans, but rather lining the pockets of autocratic regimes. The association has been cozying up to authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdoğan, not out of a desire for cultural exchange or sporting prowess, but because they believe these regimes will teach them the secrets of maximizing revenue.
This approach is nothing new. Remember the Fifa World Cup Courts in South Africa in 2010, where 56 courts were hastily set up to host show trials and brandishing the governing body's logo on justice itself? The Dutch women who wore orange minidresses as a marketing stunt for Bavaria beer were arrested and charged with crimes. These incidents are not isolated examples of Fifa's disregard for its people, but rather symptoms of a broader problem: football has lost touch with its fans.
The World Cup draw in January showcased Infantino's willingness to associate himself with Trump, who has a history of inflammatory rhetoric and divisive policies. The fact that Infantino was seated just two rows behind the tech oligarchs at Trump's inauguration is just the tip of the iceberg. He has now become an integral part of Trump's "Dontourage," where autocrats mingle and promote their respective interests.
Fifa's actions are a perfect example of how power corrupts, even for those who claim to be defenders of the sport. The association has effectively become a puppet regime, with smaller nations buying off votes via disproportionately large grants to secure Infantino's position. This hollows out any semblance of democratic process and leaves fans with no voice in the decision-making process.
It's hard to see a revolution happening anytime soon, unless one or more of the big football markets takes a stand against Infantino's regime. However, as things stand now, it seems that football has lost its soul. The only ones who care less than Infantino are perhaps the fans themselves – those who can't afford tickets and therefore have no say in the matter.
The final price of this betrayal will be paid by the fans, who will continue to suck up the costs while Fifa reaps the benefits. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, one thing is certain: football has abandoned its fans in the pursuit of profits, leaving only a hollow shell of what once was a beautiful game.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: football has abandoned its fans in the pursuit of profits. The latest example? A ticket to the US final will cost £3,120 – seven times more than the cheapest ticket for the last World Cup final in Qatar.
Fifa's president Gianni Infantino and his predecessor have made it crystal clear that their priority is not the well-being of fans, but rather lining the pockets of autocratic regimes. The association has been cozying up to authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdoğan, not out of a desire for cultural exchange or sporting prowess, but because they believe these regimes will teach them the secrets of maximizing revenue.
This approach is nothing new. Remember the Fifa World Cup Courts in South Africa in 2010, where 56 courts were hastily set up to host show trials and brandishing the governing body's logo on justice itself? The Dutch women who wore orange minidresses as a marketing stunt for Bavaria beer were arrested and charged with crimes. These incidents are not isolated examples of Fifa's disregard for its people, but rather symptoms of a broader problem: football has lost touch with its fans.
The World Cup draw in January showcased Infantino's willingness to associate himself with Trump, who has a history of inflammatory rhetoric and divisive policies. The fact that Infantino was seated just two rows behind the tech oligarchs at Trump's inauguration is just the tip of the iceberg. He has now become an integral part of Trump's "Dontourage," where autocrats mingle and promote their respective interests.
Fifa's actions are a perfect example of how power corrupts, even for those who claim to be defenders of the sport. The association has effectively become a puppet regime, with smaller nations buying off votes via disproportionately large grants to secure Infantino's position. This hollows out any semblance of democratic process and leaves fans with no voice in the decision-making process.
It's hard to see a revolution happening anytime soon, unless one or more of the big football markets takes a stand against Infantino's regime. However, as things stand now, it seems that football has lost its soul. The only ones who care less than Infantino are perhaps the fans themselves – those who can't afford tickets and therefore have no say in the matter.
The final price of this betrayal will be paid by the fans, who will continue to suck up the costs while Fifa reaps the benefits. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, one thing is certain: football has abandoned its fans in the pursuit of profits, leaving only a hollow shell of what once was a beautiful game.
I totally disagree with this article... I think it's awesome that FIFA is making money from the World Cup! 
The £3,120 ticket price may be steep, but it shows that football has become a global brand and people are willing to pay top dollar for the experience. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good authoritarian leader association? 
Gianni Infantino seems like a breath of fresh air compared to previous FIFA presidents.
And let's not forget about the social impact of the World Cup, which can bring people together and promote cultural exchange.
The article is just a bunch of clickbait nonsense in my opinion.
. £3,120?! That's insane! I mean, I get it, FIFA's got expenses and all but come on, are we really expected to shell out that kind of cash just to watch a game? It's just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on Infantino and his pals cozying up to autocratic regimes 
. It's like they're more concerned with lining their own pockets than actually listening to the fans. I swear, football's lost touch with its roots. The price of a ticket is just one example of how much it costs to be a fan anymore 
.
. newsflash: football is 4 da rich and famous, not 4 da everyday fan 
. its like fifa is more concerned with making that dough than with the people who make the sport what it is 
. I mean, £3,120 for a ticket to the US final?! That's just straight-up robbery! 
️ It's like they're sucking all the soul outta the sport. And don't even get me started on Fifa's ties with authoritarian regimes... that's just a recipe for disaster 
. The fact that Gianni Infantino is basically buddies with Trump is just, like, what's next? 
Anyway, I think the fans need to take a stand and demand some change. We can't keep sitting back and watching our favorite sport get hijacked by profiteers 
. It's time for a revolution... of sorts 
.
. I swear, if you're gonna sell out like this, at least have the decency to make it a bit more accessible for everyone... but noooo, Fifa's all about greed and power 
. It's sad, man... football used to be about the fans, not just some corporate interests 
.
. Like, what's next? Selling your soul for a ticket to the final match? 
. A revolution needs to happen, or else we'll just have to sit out this whole thing 
.
. the whole thing just feels so rigged now. those of us who can't afford tickets are just gonna be left out in the cold, watching on tv while everyone else is stuck paying through the nose 
I feel like they're taking advantage of us fans, you know? I remember when I watched the last World Cup final in Qatar and it was just a few hundred bucks for a ticket. Now it's like they're charging us an arm and a leg! 
. Maybe someone like Manchester City or Liverpool needs to take a stand and show the rest of us that fans matter too 