FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, saying Wednesday if we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.FIFA priced tickets starting at $140 for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts Thursday and priced regular seats up to $8,680 for the July 19 final in New Jersey. It raised prices for the final to $10,990 and then $32,970. After criticism, FIFA offered a small amount of $60 tickets to national federations for their regular supporters. He said Wednesday 130,000 tickets were offered at that price, out of 6 to 7 million total.Infantino said the average ticket price was under $500 for the tournament and was comparable to other U.S. sports during their playoffs, a claim that while true for resale prices does not appear to be accurate for list prices. He said he was unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.We are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6.5 million or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers, he said. We welcome every investigation.The NBA Finals have had wildly varied get-in prices, ranging from a minimum of about $500 for the first two games in San Antonio to about $10,000 for Game 3 in New York. Game 4 in New York was much less, dropping to about $4,000 on WednesdayThe Stanley Cup Final this year between teams in Las Vegas and Raleigh, North Carolina, has included a get-in price of at least $600 for each of the first four games of the best-of-seven series.Infantino says FIFA is powerless to get US entry for denied Somali refereeInfantino said it was unfortunate that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. and said people should chill.He said FIFA cannot dictate to governments who to let into their countries, though it is working behind the scenes.We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions," he said. "Sometimes we manage, other times not.We dont live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, he said.He thinks FIFA deserves credit for ensuring Iran's participationInfantino praised FIFA for working through details that allow Iran to play in the tournament at a time the U.S. is at war with Iran. The Iranian team moved its training camp from the U.S. to Mexico and will fly to the U.S. before matches.I dont know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances ... Iran could come and play, Infantino said.Infantino claimed the tournament will be the biggest event probably in the history of mankind.This press conference went smoother than Infantino's opening comments in QatarFour years ago, Infantino scolded critics during a news conference ahead of the opener in Qatar. He lectured Europeans for criticizing Qatars human rights record during a bizarre availability in which he claimed to feel gay, like a woman and a migrant worker, among other bizarre claims.Now 50, Infantino has been FIFAs president since 2010 and intends to seek another term next year that runs through 2031.Infantino kept an empty seat at the news conference for Christophe Gleizes, a French freelance reporter given a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria last year over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement.___AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed.__AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Security forces numbering more than 10,000 have been mobilised ahead of Thursday's World Cup curtain-raiser amid mounting fears that widespread demonstrations could derail the tournament's opening day.Mexico face South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to launch the first 48-team World Cup in history, with an elaborate ceremony planned beforehand.However, protest groups have issued stark warnings that the fixture may not go ahead. Demonstrators have adopted the slogan "if there's no solution, the ball won't roll" as they prepare to descend on the venue.At least six separate groups intend to converge on the stadium, including teachers, transport workers, farmers and relatives of missing persons, threatening to bring the Mexican capital to a standstill.The disruption threats extend beyond street protests to a bitter dispute over executive box ownership at the 87,000-capacity venue.More than 15,000 seats are caught up in a row stemming from FIFA's longstanding policy of assuming complete control of stadiums during tournaments.When the Azteca underwent full reconstruction in 1966, suites were sold with unrestricted rights lasting 99 years, entitlements that covered both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups held at the ground.Box holders claim FIFA's current restrictions prevent them from selling tickets and providing food and drink to guests during the tournament.The Mexican Association of Box and Grandstand Seat Holders has threatened boycotts and protests, with backing from the CNTE teachers' union, unless meaningful negotiations take place before kick-off.Demonstrators plan to begin marching and cycling along major routes through the capital from Thursday morning, with the intention of reaching the stadium by 1pm local time, coinciding with the ceremony's scheduled start.The CNTE teachers' union intends to obstruct access to the FIFA Fan Fest whilst staging marches near key transport hubs.A contingent exceeding 100,000 educators from the union will simultaneously maintain a presence in the city centre.Families of those who have disappeared plan to form human chains in the vicinity of the ground and observe a minute's silence for their loved ones.The protesters are demanding the abolition of USICAMM, a government administrative body, alongside the reversal of legislation that has negatively impacted pension arrangements for state workers.Roberto Ruano, representing the box holders' association, has appealed directly to stadium owner Emilio Azcarraga for talks, stating: "I want to take this opportunity to make a gentlemanly appeal to Emilio Azcarraga, to tell him that I am ready to sit down and talk with him."He warned that the CNTE, transport workers and other groups stand ready to support their cause if dialogue remains blocked.Union leader Marcelino Rodarte, Secretary General of Section 58 of the CNTE, declared: "On June 11, the ball won't roll if there is no response for the organised teachers."Authorities have responded by establishing alternative routes to guarantee both teams reach the venue safely, whilst making clear that any mass blockade or sabotage of the opening event will not be tolerated.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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Sports leadership at Texas Tech on Wednesday defended their plans to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby next season while he treats his gambling addiction, insisting they are not trying to "engineer his eligibility" through the courts and dismissing widespread criticism t hat includes the president of the NCAA. Speaking to the Houston Touchdown Club, coach Joey McGuire acknowledged the "rage" surrounding the situation, with athletic directors across college football saying that the NCAA ban on players who gamble should remain sacrosanct and a court order won this week by Sorsby crossed a line that should never be crossed. "For some reason, as a society, weve been OK with other things that happen and allowing players to play, and this has been the one thing that has united people, that they were against," McGuire said. "Its crazy because its not murder, its not beating somebody -- so theres a lot of things that were working through. None of this is OK." Athletic director Kirby Hocutt also released a statement to "offer a few facts that seem to be getting lost in the noise" and noting the school is not part of Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA. "A young man in treatment for a clinically diagnosed addiction exercised his legal right to seek a remedy in court and a judge agreed with him," Hocutt said. "Our role has been to support his recover, not to engineer his eligibility." Under the court order, Sorsby will be suspened for the first two games of the season. The NCAA plans to appeal the ruling, with President Charlie Baker telling reporters in Las Vegas that the case illustrated "a new low" in college sports. McGuire likened Sorsby recovering from his addiction to fellow Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammonds recovery from knee surgery. "Hes recovering," McGuire said. "Ive sat down with this young man multiple times and the things that he is going through and what hes been through, its serious." "And I have a number of people in my family that were addicted to different stuff and so Ive seen what addiction does to people," he said. "And so, us even saying to the point before we get to the legal part, that he could be ready in Week 3 against Houston is still a stretch because guess what, hes still recovering." McGuire added that Sorsby was "back in the building" after spending some time away from the facilities while he was dealing with his issues. Reporting by the Associated Press.

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt defended Brendan Sorsby and his school as the Red Raiders reportedly take steps toward a high-stakes legal showdown ahead of the 2026 season