As World Cup ticket prices continue to be debated, FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared they are in line with most American sporting events.

FIFA has come under fire for the cost of tickets to the quadrennial tournament that starts June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, but Infantino said market rates have to be applied.

“In the US, it is permitted to resell tickets as well, so if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price,” Infantino said on May 5 at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.

“And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double our price.”

A quick look May 6 on the Ticketmaster website for the June 19 group-stage match between the United States and Australia in Seattle certainly did not display any bargains.

The lowest price for two tickets early in the evening of May 6 was a resale pair for US$2,725.10, which broke down to $2,290 for the tickets and $435.10 in service fees. However, a new search 30 minutes later showed the total price climbing to US$2,770.90 (S$3,454) for seats high in the upper deck along the sideline at Lumen Field.

For fans more familiar with football than futbol, they could be considered on the 25-yard line.

On its own market place, FIFA takes a 15 per cent purchase fee from the buyer of a resold ticket and a 15 per cent free from the seller.

However, Infantino said World Cup prices are not out of line.

“We have 25 per cent of the group stage tickets which can be bought for less than US$300,” Infantino said. “You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than US$300. And this is the World Cup.”

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