Over the past few months, a number of soccer fans and organizations have expressed their frustration over the exorbitant 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket prices. And, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) ace Timothy Weah has echoed a similar sentiment of late.
Now, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has stepped in to defuse a media uproar.
USMNT Distanced From 2026 FIFA World Cup Discourse
Earlier this month, USMNT and Olympique Marseille ace Weah claimed that the ticket prices for this summer’s FIFA World Cup were too steep during a chat with Le Dauphine.
“They are too expensive. Soccer should still be enjoyed by everyone. It is the most popular sport. The 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,” Weah commented.
When asked to share his honest thoughts on Weah’s recent remarks, Pochettino declined to engage in a debate about the World Cup ticket prices. He claimed that USMNT stars should focus on preparing themselves for the upcoming quadrennial tournament.
“First of all, I think players need to talk on the pitch, playing soccer, not outside of. It is not (Weah’s) duty to evaluate the price of the tickets. And then my job… my duty is to prepare the team in the best way to perform,” the former Tottenham Hotspur boss said.
Pochettino added, “We are not politicians… we are sporting people who can only 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.”
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“Our responsibility is to perform, play, and perform on the pitch and then the person who is in charge of the federation, maybe he can give his opinion, but I am the head coach of the federation’s team,” the one-time Ligue 1-winning tactician concluded.
Weah’s comments come after FIFA listed World Cup tickets at prices as high as $8,680 last month. However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has recently defended the pricing strategy by stating his organization has already received over 500 million ticket requests.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be competed by 48 teams instead of 32, will be held from Jun. 11 to Jul. 19 this year in the host nations of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
