FIFA Club World Cup Tickets Selling for Just $6 in U.S.

MIAMI, FL — The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup officially begins this weekend in the United States, featuring a star-studded lineup of 32 elite club teams from around the globe. However, despite the presence of football icon Lionel Messi and other global superstars, ticket sales for the event are falling short of expectations.

Inter Miami CF, led by Messi himself, opens the tournament against Egyptian side Al Ahly FC at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami. The match is part of a monthlong competition running through July 13, with games scheduled across 11 major U.S. cities and the final to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Major Teams, Minor Turnout?

Heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs participating. Yet demand has been underwhelming, especially considering the tournament’s scale and significance. On StubHub and other secondary markets, tickets for some group-stage matches are going for as little as $6 including fees—less than the cost of a coffee at a stadium concession stand.

For comparison, upper-level seats on Ticketmaster, FIFA’s official sales partner, are listed at $33.45 before taxes for next week’s CF Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg match in Cincinnati, with premium seats reaching upwards of $750. But the same match has lower-level seats listed on resale platforms for a fraction of the price, reflecting a wide disconnect between listed and market value.

FIFA’s Quiet Response and Promotional Push

While FIFA has not issued a formal statement addressing the lagging ticket sales, reports suggest aggressive promotional efforts behind the scenes. According to The Athletic, organizers offered students at a nearby college $20 tickets for the opener, along with up to four free tickets to help fill the stadium.

These tactics indicate a broader concern: even with globally recognized teams and players, the Club World Cup may not yet hold the same appeal for casual American fans accustomed to NFL, NBA, or MLB spectacles. And with other summer soccer events underway—such as the Gold Cup and ongoing MLS season—the sports calendar is already packed.

A Financial Perspective

From a business standpoint, the sluggish ticket sales raise questions about FIFA’s pricing model and market assumptions. The organization clearly hoped that hosting the tournament in a lucrative consumer market like the U.S. would translate into robust revenue. But steep prices for early matches, combined with general market fatigue and lack of cultural penetration for international club soccer, may be dampening interest.

For investors, especially those with exposure to Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV)—which owns Ticketmaster—the early turnout may signal short-term revenue volatility. Live Nation has faced scrutiny in recent years over ticket pricing algorithms and fee transparency, and this tournament’s pricing misalignment could reignite debate about event accessibility.

Meanwhile, resellers like StubHub appear to be absorbing inventory at a loss, indicating low speculative demand. This could reflect poorly on the secondary market’s confidence in the event’s draw, especially for early-stage matches without U.S. teams involved.

Still a Bargain for Fans—and a Learning Moment for FIFA

Despite the lukewarm reception so far, the Club World Cup still presents a major opportunity for fans. With elite players and high-stakes matches on U.S. soil, the chance to witness world-class football for less than $10 is a rare and perhaps undervalued experience.

Whether FIFA can turn things around in the coming weeks will depend not just on on-field excitement, but on how quickly the organization adapts its fan engagement and pricing strategies to fit the U.S. sports consumer landscape.

Upcoming Matches with Low Ticket Prices

• Flamengo (Brazil) vs. ES Tunis (Tunisia) – June 16, Philadelphia – Under $10 on resale sites

• Ulsan HD FC (South Korea) vs. Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) – June 17, Orlando – Starting at $6

• CF Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – June 26, Nashville – Tickets from $8 and up

Early ticket sales suggest that even global stars like Messi can’t guarantee packed stadiums in the U.S. when it comes to international club tournaments. For FIFA, it’s a clear sign that American fans still treat these events differently—and that pricing, timing, and local relevance matter more than marquee names alone.

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