As the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 gets ready to kick off across multiple U.S. cities from June 14 to July 13, excitement on the pitch may not be matched in the stands. Despite star power from global icons like Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, ticket sales have been sluggish, prompting FIFA to slash prices, in some cases by as much as 84%.
The tournament’s opening match, set to take place in Miami, features Inter Miami facing Egypt’s Al Ahly. With Messi and Suárez headlining the game, organisers hoped for a sellout crowd of over 60,000. However, as of this week, fewer than 25,000 tickets have been sold, sparking concerns about the event’s turnout and atmosphere.
Prices Drop Sharply, But Interest Remains Tepid
Initially, standard seats for the opening match were priced at €306, but have now dropped to as low as €50. Premium and VIP tickets have also seen significant reductions: seats once priced at €725 are now available for €260, and seats previously priced at €525 are now available for just €125. Group stage ticket prices now range between €30 and €250, depending on the seat tier.
Despite these aggressive price cuts, thousands of high-priced tickets remain unsold, raising alarms about stadium occupancy and overall fan engagement.
FIFA’s $10 Billion Gamble
The 2025 tournament is FIFA’s first attempt to transform the Club World Cup into a month-long global event, featuring 32 teams in a format similar to the men’s FIFA World Cup. The stakes are high; the tournament carries a massive $10 billion total prize pool, with $125 million going to the winning team.
This ambitious expansion aims to elevate club football to a new level of global exposure. However, the American market’s lukewarm reception suggests the challenge of marketing international football in a country where soccer still plays second fiddle to other sports.
Star Power Isn’t Enough?
Even with Messi in the lineup, local fans appear hesitant. Some cite high initial ticket prices, while others question the unfamiliar format and timing, squeezed between the end of European club seasons and the summer break.
“I’d love to see Messi play live,” said one Miami-based fan. “But when the tickets first came out, they were just too expensive. Now they’re cheaper, but I’ve already made other plans.”
With 63 matches scheduled and over 3.6 million tickets available, FIFA has a steep hill to climb in turning this tournament into the spectacle it hopes for.
Whether the football will be world-class is one question. Whether the stadiums will be packed is another matter entirely.
