Ticket prices for the FIFA Club World Cup are dropping rapidly, with some fans even receiving free tickets to matches. One notable student discount offers five tickets to the opening game for just $20 — that’s only $4 per ticket to see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in action.
In Seattle, Sounders supporters have been offered free tickets after some were granted partial refunds or had their seats moved closer to the field. Meanwhile, in Miami, students received the special five-ticket deal for the tournament’s opener.
Prices on Ticketmaster, FIFA’s official ticket platform, vary widely. For example, the first match at the Rose Bowl between PSG and Atlético de Madrid costs nearly $100 to attend. On the other hand, a group stage game in Orlando featuring teams from South Africa and South Korea has tickets starting at just $22.
Reports last week from The Athletic revealed that tens of thousands of tickets for the Miami opener remained unsold. In response, FIFA has lowered prices for group stage games to encourage attendance.
However, prices for the final in New Jersey have not been reduced. Entry tickets for the final are priced above $700. Matches involving Real Madrid also command higher prices, with some group stage games priced around $250.
Ticket prices follow a dynamic pricing model, meaning that when demand is low, prices drop, and when demand is high, prices rise.
This year, the Club World Cup expanded dramatically from seven to 32 teams and introduced a $1 billion prize pool. The tournament has faced criticism for adding to soccer’s already busy international schedule.
FIFA carefully selected host cities known for soccer interest. Nashville’s 30,000-seat Geodis Park, home to Nashville SC, was chosen over the much larger 70,000-seat Nissan Stadium. Other soccer-friendly cities like Cincinnati and Charlotte were also selected. The semifinals and final in New Jersey will test logistics ahead of the 2026 World Cup, especially in security and transportation.
While some matches will be held in smaller MLS stadiums in cities like Cincinnati, Nashville, and Washington, D.C., several host sites are full NFL stadiums, including Atlanta, Seattle, and Philadelphia. Though FIFA might avoid showing empty seats on some TV broadcasts, it will be difficult to hide in all venues.
Last summer, Copa América’s final at Hard Rock Stadium faced security breaches, numerous arrests—including that of the Colombian soccer federation president—and kickoff delays. The tournament struggled to fill large NFL venues despite high ticket prices.
Despite slow ticket sales, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains optimistic. In April, he said he was “not worried at all about ticket sales” and expects the Miami opener to be “full” and “packed with fans.”
