Trump on the expensive ticket prices for the World Cup: I wouldn’t pay for them either

The backlash came after it was revealed that ticket sales for the game, which is played in Los Angeles in June, were lagging behind others.

FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, has come under fire for ticket prices for this year’s championship. The cheapest ticket for the USA-Paraguay game in one of the three major categories was originally $1,120.

President Trump, who is known for his close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, expressed his view of the situation.

“I didn’t know about those amounts,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with the New York Post. “I’d certainly like to be there, but honestly, I wouldn’t pay for it either.”

Although he expressed concern about the prices, the 79-year-old Trump reiterated that ticket sales, with around five million tickets sold according to Infantino, were “extremely successful”. “I haven’t seen the prices, but I would have to look into it,” he added, Index reports.

“If the people of Queens and Brooklyn, and all the people who love Donald Trump, can’t go, I’d be disappointed. But, you know, at the same time, it’s an incredible achievement. I wish the people who voted for me could go.” He concluded about sales so far: “I know it’s extremely successful. It’s breaking all records. They’ve never had anything like it.”

On the other hand, Gianni Infantino defended ticket prices for the World Cup, which is hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, at the Milken Institute conference in Beverly Hills this week.

“In reality, 25 percent of group game tickets are available for less than $300,” he said.

“You can’t go to a college game in the US, let alone a top professional event, for less than $300. And this is the World Cup!” Infantino added that they must adapt to the market.

“We are in a market where entertainment is the most developed in the world, so we have to apply market prices,” he explained.

“In the USA, the resale of tickets is also allowed, so if you were to sell them at too low a price, they would be resold at a much higher price anyway,” he concluded.

(Vijesti.ba)