[Saba Sports News] With six months to go until the 2026 World Cup, the issue of ticket prices for the tournament has become a hot topic. Recently, US national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino was asked about the World Cup ticket prices during a media interview. Faced with the reporters’ follow-up questions, Pochettino made his stance clear, stating that the core task of players and coaches is to focus on the pitch and do their own jobs well. He emphasized that evaluating ticket prices is not the responsibility of players or coaches; they are not politicians but sports professionals, and there is no need for them to talk about matters unrelated to their core work.
As for why the ticket prices are set at such levels, Pochettino said that the right to explain lies with FIFA. If the media wants answers, they should ask FIFA directly. He also mentioned that he believes FIFA, as the tournament organizer, certainly has its own reasons for setting the prices this way, and it is FIFA’s responsibility to provide relevant explanations.
In fact, the 2026 World Cup ticket prices have sparked considerable controversy. A dynamic pricing model is adopted for the tickets, meaning the prices are not fixed. Group stage tickets start at several hundred US dollars, while the official maximum price for the final is staggeringly high. Resale platforms also allow price markups and charge service fees to both buyers and sellers, which has left many fans and relevant groups dissatisfied and prompted numerous protests.