The head of the World Cup organization under Donald Trump told fans who cannot afford expensive tickets to watch the matches on television or in fan zones instead of coming to the stadium.

Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and an ally of Donald Trump, said that the market will determine ticket prices, which currently reflect strong interest in the tournament.

“We view FIFA as a private organization, and I do not believe this is something that should be subject to legislative regulation,” Giuliani told the New York Post. “That is exactly what dynamic pricing can do.”

FIFA, the world football governing body, has already faced criticism over high ticket prices for the tournament taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, beginning next month.

The Trump administration said that fans who cannot afford around $1,000 for a ticket to the opening match between the United States and Mexico “can be there, but they probably will not be able to pay.” It added: “To be honest, let them watch on television.”

FIFA uses algorithmic pricing, where algorithms determine ticket values based on market demand. Despite criticism, FIFA defended the practice, saying it is common in the modern sports business.

However, algorithmic pricing is now under increased scrutiny from regulators. In Canada, for example, the provincial government of Ontario banned ticket resales at prices higher than the original value.

Giuliani said ticket sales in the United States had been “very good” after tickets went on sale last month. He also expressed concern that foreign fans may be discouraged from traveling to the U.S. because of fears related to human rights issues and possible arrests.

“We do not want anyone who legally came here to be worried about whether they will be arrested during the World Cup or at any other time,” he said.

He added that more than 6 million travel authorization requests (visas) had been submitted since October 2025 from 19 countries participating in the tournament. He especially noted that requests from Argentina and Brazil had dropped to “less than half” compared with last year, describing it as “an incredible opportunity” to show America to the world.

According to data from Ticket Data, a company tracking secondary-market prices, World Cup ticket prices have fallen by around 17% over the past two weeks, to an average of $567.

FIFA’s pricing strategy, the article states, has been typical for major sporting events — high initial prices that later decline as the event approaches.

“That does not mean FIFA will not sell all tickets at high prices,” the article concludes. “The big question remains how much money FIFA actually keeps in its pocket.”