‘Of course, I’d want it to be affordable’ – Monaco and USMNT forward Folarin Balogun on World Cup ticket prices | OneFootball

The ticket pricing for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has drawn criticism, including from one of the USMNT’s own, Timothy Weah. 

“It is too expensive,” began the USMNT international in an interview with Le Dauphiné. “Football should still be enjoyed by everyone. It is the most popular sport. This World Cup will be good, but it will be more of a show. I am just a bit disappointed by the ticket prices. Lots of real fans will miss matches.”

The cheapest ticket for the final will cost £3,000, whilst, across the board, prices compared to the last edition of the tournament, held in Qatar, increased by almost 500%. That was until FIFA brought in a small number of cheaper, £45 tickets. Those tickets make up 10% of the allocation for each football allocation. 

The move was welcomed, however, with so few tickets available at this price, the tournament will remain financially prohibitive for many. 

Whilst, in a press conference attended by Get French Football News, Balogun said that he “didn’t really know too much about the ticket prices,” the AS Monaco forward added, “It is difficult for me to resonate because I’m not buying the tickets, but growing up, I watched the World Cup on TV, and it has a magical effect […] the World Cup is always memorable for people for different reasons. Of course, I’d want it to be affordable.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco