USMNT coach Pochettino dodges World Cup ticket price question after Timo Weah criticism

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 30 Jan 2026 04:19 CST
• 6 min read

Nieuws

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has refused to be dragged into the debate surrounding the price of World Cup tickets.

FIFA has received huge criticism over the past six months or so for their set prices for World Cup matches.

Group stage matches are, on average, three times as expensive as the last World Cup, while the cheapest ticket for the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is £3,119.

The next World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer and despite complaints about exorbitant ticket prices due to the dynamic pricing structure in place, the tournament's organising body reported that 500 million ticket requests have been made.

Numerous high-profile figures, including New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, have been outspoken about how costly the World Cup is going to be be for regular fans.

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USMNT star Timo Weah told Le Dauphine: “It is too expensive. 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,”

Pochettino dodges question

Former Chelsea, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino believes that questions surrounding ticket prices should be put to FIFA, not coaches and players.

"First of all, I think players need to talk on the pitch, playing football, not outside of," Pochettino said at a press conference this week.

"It is not [Weah's] duty to evaluate the price of the ticket. And then also my job, my duty is to prepare the team, the U.S. Men's National Team in the best way to perform.

"We are not politicians. We are sporting people who can only we can talk about our job, and I think if FIFA does something or takes a decision, they know why, and [it] is their responsibility to explain why. But it is not about us to provide our opinion. Our responsibility is to perform, play, and perform on the pitc,h and then the people that is in charge of the federation, maybe he can give his opinion, but I am the head coach of the federation.

“I think for sure you need the media to ask directly to FIFA, and for sure, you're going to receive a very good answer, but no, it is not up to us to shush this type of thing. We need to be focusing on the sports side and trust in the organization that is in charge of soccer or football around the world that they are going to do the right things.”

The United States have been drawn in a group alongside Paraguay and Australia, with their final opponent to be determined by a playoff in March.

Supporter Entry Tier tickets

FIFA previously announced a new Supporter Entry Tier that will see ticket prices capped at $60 for fans of qualified countries.

"The entry tier tickets will be allocated specifically to supporters of qualified teams, with the selection and distribution process managed individually by the Participating Member Associations (PMAs)," FIFA confirmed.

"Each PMA will define its own eligibility criteria and application process. They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams."

FIFA says that only 10 per cent of the allocated PMA tickets will be in the Supporter Entry Tier. 40 per cent will be sold in a "Value Tier," with prices roughly corresponding to the Category 3 tickets available to the general public (around $265 for a group stage game).

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