Football Fever Hits USA: FIFA Bends Over Backwards to Boost Attendances at Club World Cup
FIFA tackles potential embarrassments and slashes costs
Get ready for the FIFA Club World Cup, the lucrative billion-dollar event taking place across the USA from June 14! The world football governing body is pulling out all the stops to convince football fans to attend, following concerns about poor ticket sales.
FIFA is offering a sweet deal to speed up ticket sales, with prices slashed for many matches. For instance, tickets for the opening game between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egyptian representatives Al-Ahly, originally priced at $349, are now just $55.[1] Similar reductions can be seen for matches featuring teams like the Seattle Sounders, with tickets available for under $40.[2]
But FIFA isn't stopping there. They're even offering partial refunds to fans who purchased tickets early, intended to compensate for those who paid a higher price before the price drop.[1][2] Additionally, teams like the Seattle Sounders are collaborating with FIFA to offer further discounts and solutions to fans who bought pricier tickets previously.[2]
Currently, some matches like the LAFC vs. Club América playoff have sold out, showing that there's definitely a demand for certain fixtures.[3] However, the question remains about attendance for other matches, particularly those involving less prominent clubs such as Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and South African record champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who risk having half-empty stands despite reduced ticket prices.[1]
FIFA stated, "With this tournament, we're introducing the world to many new, successful clubs from around the world. Overall, we expect a high attendance at this first edition of the tournament."[1] Early in April, FIFA announced that fans who buy a "Super Ticket Package" for the Club World Cup will secure a guaranteed ticket to the 2026 World Cup final—provided they foot the bill. The package, priced at over $750, includes 20 games over 20 different days, including semifinals and either the opening game or the final.[1]
Past ticket sales issues seem to have taken a back seat, as FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared he was "not worried at all about ticket sales."[1] In the end, the FIFA Club World Cup is set to be a star-studded event, with record champions Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund representing Germany.[4]
Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] ter[3] The Athletic[4] fifa.com
- Gianni Infantino
- Fifa
I'm not going to be able to attend every football match at the FIFA Club World Cup due to the high prices, but I'm glad to see that FIFA is offering discounts and even refunds to boost attendance, especially for less prominent clubs like Urawa Red Diamonds and Mamelodi Sundowns. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the "Super Ticket Package" to secure a guaranteed ticket to the 2026 World Cup final.
