"I am a man of the people." Rio Ferdinand Doesn't Regret his Controversial Statement

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has been in the news recently after his statement, “I am a man of the people” erupted outrage as fans across the globe called him out for his hypocrisy. When Rio Ferdinand was asked about the increasing ticket prices, he said that the organisers are aware of the affordability issue. The Rio Ferdinand controversy emerged after he described himself as a man of the people and said, “I am from a place where we were always hoping for things to be accessible.”

Critics, however, noticed a major contradiction as Rio Ferdinand lives a lavish lifestyle in Dubai that excludes many high earners from paying any income tax.

Ticket Prices are at an All-Time High in the FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA introduced a dynamic ticket pricing model where ticket prices fluctuate depending on games, seat category & popularity. The official FIFA World Cup ticket prices start from 60 USD for early group stage matches, and go up to 6370 USD. From multiple sources, it is evident that the 2026 ticket prices are potentially the most expensive in the tournament's history.

48 countries from different corners of the world will come together to celebrate humanity's biggest event. However, with the increasing commercialisation of global sports, the affordability has always been scrutinised. In countries like Brazil, Morocco, Cabo Verde, Senegal, and Haiti, the monthly wages are modest. For fans in lower or middle-income countries, attending a World Cup game seems to be a far-sighted dream.

Rio Ferdinand's Humble Beginnings

Rio Ferdinand grew up in Peckham, South London, a place widely known for high crime rates, poverty and unemployment during the late 90s. His mother worked in childcare while his father was a tailor. They separated when Rio was young, and from a very early age, he realised how nothing comes easy. He came from a genuinely tough working-class background and defied all odds to become one of the greatest ever to play the game and indeed one of the Manchester United legends.

He called himself a man of the people who speaks a lot about his tough beginnings and how he saw people struggling daily to survive. However, things have changed massively now as he lives a lavish lifestyle in Dubai, which is known for tax-free income, a high luxury lifestyle and expensive real estate and cars.

The core trigger of the backlash came after he defended the high FIFA World Cup ticket prices & suggested how FIFA would ensure accessibility. He also said that high prices are normal for global events and that he doesn't regret making that statement.