FIFA has been forced to slash ticket prices for the upcoming Club World Cup in a desperate bid to boost attendance, just days before the tournament kicks off in the United States. The newly expanded 32-team event begins on June 15, with global stars like Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham set to feature, but interest from fans appears to be falling short of expectations.
The tournament opener, set for Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, will see Inter Miami, led by Messi, take on African giants Al Ahly. Despite the star power on display, tens of thousands of tickets reportedly remain unsold. The stadium has a seating capacity of 65,326, but according to The Athletic, fewer than 20,000 tickets had been sold as of this week. FIFA, however, disputes the figure, claiming actual sales are “much higher.”
This sluggish demand has prompted FIFA to drastically cut ticket prices across multiple seating categories, in an effort to avoid the embarrassment of empty stands during a globally televised event. The organization has not revealed the new pricing structure, but the move signals significant concern over turnout, even with marquee clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Bayern Munich participating.
The poor early sales have raised questions about the commercial appeal and timing of the revamped Club World Cup, which is debuting in a crowded summer calendar already featuring the UEFA Euro 2025 and Copa América. While FIFA has touted the tournament as a global celebration of club football, analysts point to challenges in marketing the competition to casual fans and building hype in a country where soccer still fights for mainstream attention.
As the countdown continues to kick-off, all eyes will be on whether FIFA’s pricing U-turn can convert cold interest into packed stadiums. For now, even the presence of the world’s biggest football names may not be enough to guarantee a full house when the curtain rises on June 15.
