- Tickets for the Club World Cup final have been lowered as FIFA tries to entice more fans to Sunday’s championship game between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
- Attendance has been an ongoing talking point during the tournament, as stadiums have been half empty for many of the games.
- Many are pointing at Real Madrid’s exit in the semifinal as the main reason for the lower ticket prices, as their matches have averaged the highest attendance in the tournament.
FIFA is lowering the price of tickets for Sunday’s Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in an attempt to get more people into MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Some believe Real Madrid’s loss in the semifinal is the reason for lower ticket prices, combined with other factors.
Club World Cup Final Tickets Down Over $60 From Original Price
The Club World Cup final is two days from now, but FIFA has taken the proactive approach to decrease their ticket prices.
It is reported that a ticket for Sunday’s final was $312.20, but is now $249.75, or $62.45 less. FIFA has done this throughout the tournament as attendance has been below expectations. Tickets for the semifinal game between Chelsea and Fluminense were $475, but you could get one for as little as $13 on the day of the game.
While it is reported that average attendance was about 35,000 people for the group stage, the stadiums are massive, appearing to be at half capacity on television. There are many reasons for this.
For example, there is a heat wave across the United States, with many players and coaches complaining about the temperature. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has said the games should be played at night, and he got dizzy during games.
Fans have also complained about the expensive ticket prices to begin with. It’s not a tournament that holds much weight with hardcore soccer fans, much less casual fans. It has been a long season, and the games are in the middle of the day, which means people would have to get time off work.
There is also another opinion that has been put forth about the tickets for Sunday’s game.
Has Real Madrid’s Exit Affected Final Ticket Prices?
Spanish outlet Marca has suggested that the prices for the final are down because of Real Madrid’s exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal.
While they might be biased, Marca might also be onto something. The games involving Real Madrid had an average of 67,247 attendees, which is the highest of any team. 7
7,542 people showed up to Madrid’s 4-0 loss to PSG, and it appeared that most of the stadium was supporting the Spanish giants. It didn’t matter much, however. PSG put Madrid to the sword, ending the game in 25 minutes with three goals. The French team is a considerable favorite in the Club World Cup final odds on Sunday against Chelsea.
Had Madrid been in the final, ticket prices might have been reduced a little, but not as much as now. However, that is on Madrid to play better and make it to the final. While the turnout for the final might be lower than expected, there should be a good crowd on hand to watch PSG and Chelsea.
FIFA has hopefully learned some things from this tournament ahead of next year’s World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Maybe, they’ll adjust the ticket prices accordingly.
There should also be more night games, as Fernandez suggested, to combat the high temperatures. However, FIFA is notoriously stubborn and might just continue with the same plan.
You must be logged in to comment. Don't have an account? Sign up today.