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 promotional appearance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday. He emphasized that the Club World Cup is not just another exhibition; it’s a real competition with real stakes. “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,” Infantino stated. “This is a real game. This is a real competition.”
He further elaborated, “This is a real World Cup. It’s the best players. It’s the best teams coming.” Infantino believes that once fans grasp the significance of the competition, they’ll be eager to attend. However, he did acknowledge that FIFA has some work to do in terms of explaining the Club World Cup to the fans.
The 32-team format is a new venture for the Club World Cup, which previously featured a 7-team version in 2021, 2022, and 2023. When asked about current ticket sales numbers, FIFA officials declined to provide specifics. However, a quick glance at Ticketmaster reveals some insights into the situation.
- The cheapest seat for the June 14 opening match in Miami Gardens, Florida, featuring Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF vs. 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.
- For the second match on June 15 in Cincinnati between Bayern Munich and Auckland City, the cheapest seat is a more reasonable $94.80, with multiple sections still having over 100 tickets available.
- The first match at the Rose Bowl on June 15 between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid shows over half of the Rose Bowl’s 26 sections with at least 100 tickets available, with the cheapest seat at $133.80.
In an effort to boost sales, FIFA recently announced 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 remains optimistic, stating, “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.”
In addition to discussing the Club World Cup, Infantino touched on the possibility of Atlanta hosting a Women’s World Cup final. He joked that the 71,000-seat venue would need another 20,000 seats but 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 significant impression.
While Infantino may express confidence about ticket sales, he did make 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
