FIFA’s Infantino Unfazed by Club World Cup Ticket Sales Concerns
ATLANTA — In the world of sports, ticket sales can often be a barometer of an event’s success, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino seems to be taking a different approach when it comes to the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States. Despite some murmurs about the pace of ticket sales for the 32-team event, Infantino remains unperturbed. His confidence stems from the historical success of friendly matches featuring top-tier teams during their preseason tours in the U.S.
Infantino made his case during a visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, where he was promoting the Club World Cup. “I’m not worried at all to fill a stadium when teams are coming to play a World Cup, to play for something real, not just an exhibition game where sometimes the second or third squads are fielded and so on,” he stated. “This is a real game. This is a real competition. This is a real World Cup. It’s the best players. It’s the best teams coming.”
While Infantino’s optimism is clear, he also acknowledged the need for FIFA to better explain the Club World Cup to fans. The tournament, which has expanded to 32 teams, is adopting a new format after previously hosting a 7-team version in 2021, 2022, and 2023. However, when pressed for current ticket sales numbers, FIFA officials declined to provide specifics.
For those interested in attending, the cheapest seat on Ticketmaster for the June 14 opening match in Miami Gardens, Florida, featuring Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF against Egyptian side Al Ahly, is priced at $356.80. Multiple sections in both the upper and lower decks of Hard Rock Stadium show over 100 tickets available.
The situation is similar for the second match of the tournament on June 15 in Cincinnati, where Bayern Munich will face Auckland City. The cheapest seat for this match is a more reasonable $94.80, with multiple sections still having over 100 tickets available.
Meanwhile, the first match at the Rose Bowl on June 15 between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid also shows a significant number of tickets available. Over half of the Rose Bowl’s 26 sections have at least 100 tickets available, with the cheapest seat priced at $133.80.
In an effort to boost sales, FIFA has introduced a package deal where fans can purchase tickets to this summer’s Club World Cup with a “guaranteed option” to buy a ticket to one of next summer’s World Cup games, excluding the final.
Infantino emphasized the quality of the competition, saying, “When people see what it is, then they realize that they have to come. I was always told in the United States of America, you need to bring the best. Americans, they just want to see the best. They don’t want to see average things. Well, the best are coming.”
He also touched on the potential for Atlanta to host a Women’s World Cup final, joking that the 71,000-seat venue would need another 20,000 seats. However, he noted that the city, which will host 14 games between the Club and regular World Cups, including a World Cup semifinal next year, has a chance to make a lasting impression.
While Infantino may express confidence about ticket sales, he made it clear that tickets are still available. He concluded his remarks by promoting the event and announcing a $1 million contribution “for social projects” for children in Atlanta. “Let me do some publicity,” Infantino said at the podium. “There are still some tickets available. FIFA.com/tickets, get them and enjoy the best of the best playing for this, which is something incredible.”
Originally Written by: Michael Rothstein
