‘All of this sould prompt reflection’: Sheinbaum says World Cup tickets are too expensive for most Mexicans

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized FIFA for high World Cup ticket prices that are out of reach for most Mexicans, urging the organization to reflect on soccer's role beyond business. She promoted a government-backed "Social World Cup" initiative with free street festivals and redistributed tickets to underserved groups.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said FIFA should reflect on the high cost of tickets for the 2026 World Cup https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup as many have called the price far out of reach for the vast majority of Mexicans. Sheinbaum told journalists that soccer should be much more than a business. “Soccer has to be something else,” she said. “All of this should prompt reflection, even within FIFA.” There was no immediate public reaction from FIFA. Its president, Gianni Infantino, last week defended high ticket prices as fitting in the North American market. Earlier this year, tickets for matches in the three host countries including Mexico went on sale at prices ranging from $140 to $8,680. While some prices have fallen, others have soared. Tickets for the final are priced at $32,970. Resale prices are higher. In April, FIFA’s own resale platform listed four tickets for the final at around $2.3 million each. Although Mexico’s president acknowledged that it is “fine” for the World Cup to be run as a business, she said soccer also should be “a space for bringing people together, like all sports.” Sheinbaum’s government has come under criticism by a range of social movements protesting in Mexico City https://apnews.com/article/mexico-city-world-cup-fifa-tensions-06fd8a8c293de1b4fb1e420a9bee02b2 , which say the government is prioritizing the tournament https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-mexico-city-hidalgo-memes-protest-9eb21af7d70cda877038295850056386 over pressing social needs. Meanwhile, parts of stadiums in places like Guadalajara have had visibly empty seats. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-fifa-tickets-guadalajara-toronto-e80e3ddc277d653c475a9d8544c7584a FIFA last week blamed https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-fifa-tickets-guadalajara-toronto-e80e3ddc277d653c475a9d8544c7584a some empty seats in Guadalajara on fans who watched from the concourses. Since the prices were announced for the 104 World Cup matches to be played in Mexico https://apnews.com/hub/mexico , the United States and Canada, Sheinbaum has spoken out and promoted a government-backed “Social World Cup” initiative. The program aims to set up street festivals in Mexico City https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/photos-world-cup-mexico-peru-brazil-pride-64563bb32dfc69c21302c9ce2d83e600 and other cities across the country where Mexicans and foreign tourists can watch matches free of charge on giant screens. According to local authorities, half a million people attended the 18 street festivals across Mexico City on June 11 to watch the opening match in which Mexico defeated South Africa https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-mexico-south-africa-4c9de5961b70f1b2cc6e754ff2db57c2 . Sheinbaum also broke with a longstanding World Cup tradition under which the host country’s president attends the opening match. Instead, she gave her ticket to a 21-year-old Indigenous female soccer player who had no financial means of purchasing one. The federal government also decided that public officials would give up about 500 tickets to people who participated in “Social World Cup” activities, and that 88 tickets would be distributed through schools. The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit.