The Athletic previously reported that ticket sales for the United States' opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have lagged behind other events held at the venue.
FIFA has faced widespread criticism over ticket prices for this summer's World Cup. The cheapest ticket in the three main categories for the United States vs. Paraguay match was initially priced at $1,120.
In an interview with the New York Post, President Donald Trump shared his thoughts: “I don't know that number (the price of the U.S. opening match), and to be honest, I certainly want to be there, but I wouldn't buy that ticket either.”
When The Athletic contacted the White House, officials declined to comment further.
At the Milken Institute Global Conference held in Beverly Hills this week, Gianni Infantino defended the World Cup ticket prices:
"In fact, 25% of group stage tickets are priced below $300," he added. “In the United States, you can't even watch a college game for under $300, let alone a top professional event. And this is the World Cup!”
“We are in the world's most developed entertainment market, so we must adopt market prices.”
“Ticket resale is also permitted in the United States, so if you sell tickets at too low a price, they will be resold at a much higher price.”
Although Trump expressed some concern about the exorbitant ticket prices during his New York Post interview, he reaffirmed that Infantino's statement last month that "approximately 5 million tickets have been sold" was “extremely successful.”
"I haven't seen (the prices), but I have to check," Trump added. “I would be disappointed if people from Queens and Brooklyn, and all the people who love Trump, can't go, but at the same time, it's an amazing success.”
“I wish I could get everyone who voted for me to be there.”
"I know it's very successful," Trump said of current ticket sales. “It's breaking all records. They've never had anything like this before.”