United States men’s national football team manager Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed comments from American forward Timothy Weah about the price of FIFA World Cup tickets.
The tournament is set to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 this year, and prices on some sites are approaching $9,000 (£6,500/€7,500) per ticket.
“It’s not about us to provide our opinion,” Pochettino said, as reported by USA Today.
“Our responsibility is to play and perform on the pitch. Players need to talk on the pitch playing football. It’s not [Weah’s] duty to evaluate the price of the ticket.
“My duty is to prepare the team in the best way to perform. We are not politicians; we are sports people. We can talk about our jobs.
“If FIFA does something or [makes] some decision, they know why and it is their responsibility to explain why.”
Weah criticises World Cup prices
Weah, who has made 47 senior appearances for the US, told Le Dauphiné that football should be accessible for everyone.
“It is too expensive,” said the 25-year-old.
“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.”
FIFA faced criticism over the high ticket prices for the tournament, with the final ranging from $4,185 to $8,680, prompting it to introduce a lower-priced tier late last year.
Pochettino, speaking from the FIFA’s offices in Florida, praised the governing body, stating that it is “doing an amazing job” and people need to “trust that it is going to do the right things.