FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he is not concerned about the slow ticket sales for this summer’s Club World Cup.
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FIFA addresses slow Club World Cup ticket sales
Infantino made an appearance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday to promote the Club World Cup.
According to the FIFA chief, he’s not worried because stadiums have filled up for friendly matches between top-tier teams during past preseason tours in the United States.
“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 said.
“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.”
Infantino added that FIFA has to explain the Club World Cup to fans.
Ticket packages
Meanwhile, FIFA officials declined to disclose ticket sales figures so far when asked by ESPN on Monday.
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 — costs $356.80.
Multiple sections in both the upper and lower decks of Hard Rock Stadium have over 100 tickets available on Ticketmaster.
On the other hand, the second match of the tournament on June 15 in Cincinnati between Bayern Munich and Auckland City has a more reasonable starting price of $94.80.
FIFA also recently announced a deal allowing fans to purchase ticket packages for this summer’s Club World Cup, which include a ‘guaranteed option’ to buy a ticket for one of next summer’s World Cup matches, excluding the final.
“When people see what it is, then they realize that they have to come,” Infantino said.
“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.”
Although not concerned about Club World Cup ticket sales, Infantino noted that tickets are still available.
“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.”
