Gareth Bale has slammed the 'outrageous' World Cup ticket prices.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur superstar spoke out on the issue.
What happened?
FIFA's dynamic pricing and official resale platform have made this World Cup the most expensive to attend in its near 100-year history.
Why it matters for Gareth Bale
Bale played for Wales at the World Cup in 2022 and has shared his opinions on the situation, stating that the ticket prices are 'outrageous'.
What comes next?
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken matters into his own hands by agreeing a deal to buy tickets and allocate them to local fans who otherwise would not be able to attend.
Gareth Bale wants to see everything come back a bit and give the normal fan the accessibility to just go and watch their team play, without being priced out.
He made these comments in an interview with Front Office Sports, used to launch his new sports investment fund in collaboration with Juggernaut Capital.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has relentlessly cosied up to US president Donald Trump in recent months and years, with a view to making this summer’s event the biggest, most commercial World Cup in history.
All in all, FIFA are forecasting revenues of $13bn, which is double the total earned in Qatar four years ago.
Sponsorship and media rights will contribute billions, but the most major change in 2026 has been FIFA’s policy on ticketing.
A handful of $60 tickets have been made available for matches.
Bale's comments come less than a week into the quadrennial event being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The sport itself has been – to an extent – overshadowed by politics.
FIFA has made a huge emphasis on lucrative hospitality and premium seating, and some experts say, the redirection of tickets to unofficial scalping websites.
This has led to the World Cup being the most expensive to attend in its near 100-year history.
Bale said: “It’s been a World Cup littered with political opinions, but it’s still a World Cup and everyone’s excited,”.
He also stated: “You want to really focus on the football. Of course, there’s the ticket prices, which I was actually listening to something yesterday about it, how outrageous they are.”.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur superstar wants to see change.
He believes that the World Cup should be accessible to all fans, not just those who can afford the high ticket prices.
The 2026 World Cup is expected to generate $3bn in revenue from ticket sales.
This is a significant increase from previous years, but it has come at a cost to the fans.
Gareth Bale's comments have sparked a debate about the ticketing policy for the World Cup.
Many fans have taken to social media to express their outrage at the high prices.
The World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in football.
It should be accessible to all fans, regardless of their income.
FIFA needs to take action to address the issue of high ticket prices.
This could include making more affordable tickets available or implementing a more transparent ticketing system.
The 2026 World Cup is still in its early stages.
There is still time for FIFA to make changes to the ticketing policy.
Gareth Bale's comments have highlighted the need for change.
The World Cup should be a celebration of football, not a money-making exercise.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur superstar has spoken out on the issue.
Now it's up to FIFA to take action and make the World Cup more accessible to all fans.