United States President Donald Trump has joined growing criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that he personally would not pay the current rates being charged for the U.S. national team’s opening match against Paraguay.

According to a report by The Athletic, ticket sales for the United States’ opening game at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles have lagged behind expectations, with fans complaining about the high cost of attendance.

The publication previously revealed that the cheapest tickets in FIFA’s three main categories for the match initially sold for as much as $1,120.

Responding during an interview with the New York Post, Trump said he was unaware of the exact figures but sympathised with supporters priced out of the event.

“I did not know that number,” Trump said. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”

The comments are significant given Trump’s close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has repeatedly defended FIFA’s pricing structure ahead of the tournament to be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking earlier this week at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino argued that the prices reflect the American entertainment market.

“In reality, 25 per cent of group stage tickets are available for less than $300,” Infantino said, according to The Athletic.

“In the U.S., you can’t attend a college game, let alone a top-tier professional event, for under $300. And this is the World Cup.”

Infantino also defended the pricing policy as protection against ticket scalping, noting that tickets sold too cheaply would likely be resold at inflated prices.

Despite expressing concern over affordability, Trump acknowledged that ticket sales overall had been a major commercial success.

“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go,” Trump said.

“I know that is extremely successful. Setting every record in the book. They’ve never had anything like it.”

The controversy has also attracted political attention in the United States. According to The Athletic, Congressman Frank Pallone and Representative Nellie Pou sent a letter to Infantino questioning FIFA’s pricing strategy and accusing the organisation of potentially unfair ticketing practices.

The lawmakers argued that ticket prices were being “held artificially high” despite fluctuations in market demand and called for greater transparency from FIFA.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, is expected to be the biggest and most commercially lucrative edition in the tournament’s history.

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Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has left the door open for an international return, saying he would reverse his retirement ​if he is needed for this year’s World Cup, ‌potentially returning to the national side after over a 19‑month absence.

The 39‑year‑old retired from international football in September 2024 as Uruguay’s all‑time leading scorer ​with 69 goals in 143 appearances.

Suarez’s farewell was marked by ​controversy after he criticised coach Marcelo Bielsa’s management style, ⁠saying it had divided the dressing room, though the former ​Barcelona forward said he had apologised for those remarks.

“I would ​never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up,” Suarez told reporters as quoted by EFE ​news agency.

“At the time, I stepped aside to make way ​for the younger generation. I said something I shouldn’t have said. I have ‌already ⁠apologised to those I needed to apologise to.”

Now at Major Soccer League (MLS) side Inter Miami, Suarez said he still feels the drive to compete, despite his age.

“You realise you still have a ​little bit of ​life left ⁠in you,” Suarez said.

“You get the urge to keep competing. You can see it on the ​pitch when you still get angry about the ​losses and ⁠the bad passes, and you still enjoy it when you score goals.”

Suarez has represented Uruguay at four World Cups and was part ⁠of ​their 2011 Copa America‑winning side.

The 2026 ​World Cup, co‑hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will begin on June ​11.

-Reuters

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday appeared to roll back an announcement by her education minister that school holidays will start more than a month sooner than scheduled this summer ​due to the heat and the World Cup, saying the proposal was not yet final ‌amid outrage from parents’ associations.

“Many Mexicans love soccer, we’re looking forward to the World Cup, so this proposal was made to bring the holidays forward, but we also have to take into account the children’s school days,” Sheinbaum told journalists ​at her daily morning press conference, adding that “there isn’t a set timeline yet” for the ​proposed reduction in the academic calendar.

The announcement to cut the school year was made ⁠in a post on X, opens new tab on Thursday by Secretary of Education Mario Delgado, who said the National Council ​of Educational Authorities made the “modification” in response to a heat wave in the country as well as the ​hosting of the World Cup.

“It will be ensured that all provisions of the curriculum are met and that the academic progress of all students is maintained,” Delgado wrote, without detailing how that would be achieved.

Under the proposed schedule, the academic ​year would end on June 5 instead of July 15. Schools would start the new academic year ​on August 31, one day earlier than in 2025.

“Using the FIFA World Cup as an argument to shorten the school ‌calendar ⁠is unacceptable. Our children’s education cannot be sacrificed for a sporting event that will take place in just three of the country’s 2,500 municipalities,” Mexico’s National Union of Parent Associations said in a statement, adding that high temperatures were nothing new.

Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara are hosting a total of 13 World Cup ​matches in June and ​July. Closing schools could ⁠ease traffic and congestion in those cities for the hundreds of thousands of tourists expected to descend on the country.

Mexico’s powerful teachers’ union last week also ​threatened to strike during the World Cup’s opening match, having long demanded higher pay ​and changes to ⁠the law governing teachers’ pensions.

According to official data, around 90% of students in Mexico attend public schools, while approximately 10% attend private institutions, which are not subject to the new calendar year announced by the education ⁠minister.

Mexico is ​currently experiencing a severe heat wave with temperatures in parts ​of the country hitting 45 degrees Celsius. But such temperatures are not unusual and typically begin to dissipate in June with the arrival ​of the rainy season.

-Reuters

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