The Club World Cup, ambitiously prepared by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), shows signs of failing to attract an audience.
Global 'The Athletic' quoted an interview with Matthias Grafström, FIFA's Secretary General, on the 10th (Korea time), stating that ticket sales for the new form of the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to be held in the U.S., are far below expectations.
Grafström is a former chief of staff to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He is known to be a key figure in designing this Club World Cup format.
FIFA hopes that this Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, will serve as a precursor to the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup. However, the low ticket sales for the opening match fall short of FIFA’s expectations.
The tournament, which opens on the 15th, is set to take place across the U.S. until July 13. In addition to Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi plays, global clubs such as Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Inter Milan will participate.
FIFA has introduced a 'dynamic pricing' system for this tournament, where prices vary according to demand. However, it remains easy to purchase seats.
Grafström asserted that "FIFA is trying to grow football," but in reality, this is a tournament with substantial financial investments. DAZN paid $1 billion (approximately 1.3647 trillion won) for broadcasting rights.
The prize money for the champion also amounts to $125 million (approximately 170.6 billion won), rivaling that of the Champions League. The total prize money reaches $1 billion. However, the number of matches is significantly fewer than that of the Champions League.
However, reality is harsh. Despite the likelihood of Lionel Messi playing in the opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on the 15th, the Hard Rock Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000, is expected to host fewer than 20,000 attendees. FIFA denied this but did not provide specific figures.
In fact, ticket prices for the opening match have plummeted. Initially priced at $230 (approximately 310,000 won) early this year and soaring to $349 (480,000 won) shortly after the tournament draw, prices have now dropped to $55 (approximately 75,000 won). In contrast, matches featuring Real Madrid and Boca Juniors still maintain prices above $132 (approximately 180,000 won).
Infantino maintains a posture of "not being worried at all." FIFA also claims that "fans from over 130 countries have purchased tickets."
The medium stated, "FIFA aims to expand the fan base of soccer in the U.S. through this tournament, but the actual chances of success are uncertain," adding, "It remains questionable whether this tournament can drive the 'growth of soccer in the U.S.'"
Additionally, the entry ban signed by U.S. President Donald Trump the day before affects 12 countries. This includes Iran, which has already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. This may affect the World Cup as well.
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