CORAL GABLES, Fla. — U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino stated that assessing ticket prices for this summer’s World Cup is not a responsibility he or his players should shoulder.
During a video call with reporters on Thursday, Pochettino responded to comments made by American winger Timothy Weah, who expressed concern in the French media that World Cup tickets are prohibitively expensive, making it difficult for many fans to attend.
FIFA is charging up to $8,680 per ticket for the tournament, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with parking fees reaching as much as $175. While there are some more reasonably priced options, the overall ticket prices have been heavily criticized, including by global supporter groups.
“First and foremost, players should focus on their performance on the field, not engage in discussions off it,” Pochettino remarked. “It is not [Weah’s] obligation to assess ticket prices. My responsibility is to prepare the U.S. men’s national team to perform at its best.”
“We are not politicians; we are sports professionals. Our role is strictly to discuss our work, and I believe that if FIFA makes any decisions, they have their reasons, and it’s their duty to clarify those choices. Our focus should remain on playing and performing, and the federation officials can share their perspectives. As the head coach, my main concern is the team.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing, noting that the organization has received over 500 million requests for tickets, but acknowledged that secondary market prices could possibly rise even further once tickets are made available starting February 5.
“Certainly, you should direct your questions to FIFA for a thorough answer, but it’s not our role to silence these discussions,” Pochettino added. “We must concentrate on the sporting aspects and trust that the organizations overseeing soccer globally will make the right decisions.”
The U.S. team is slated to face friendlies against Belgium (March 28), Portugal (March 31), Senegal (May 31), and Germany (June 6) ahead of their World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.
Information from The Associated Press was incorporated in this report.