In a bid to fill seats at the Club World Cup semifinals, FIFA has implemented a significant slash in ticket prices for the game between Chelsea and Fluminense, dropping the cost from an eye-watering $473.90 to a rather more accessible $13.40. This move, intended to quickly to boost attendance, comes as part of the organization's dynamic pricing strategy for the 63-game tournament.
The reduction, which sees the standard ticket price plummet, was first disclosed by NBC New York, and reflects FIFA's adaptability—or perhaps desperation—in response to the less-than-stellar turnouts seen at several of the matches. Interestingly enough, the ticket prices for the following day's semifinal between European giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were set at a comparatively steep $199.60.
Earlier, FIFA had cut ticket prices to a mere $11.15 for the quarterfinal encounters. Fluminense's matchup against Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida, and Chelsea's face-off with Palmeiras in Philadelphia both enjoyed the dramatically reduced rates. Yet, despite the apparent push for affordability, many games remained sparsely populated by fans, with the notable exception of Real Madrid's fixtures. "Many matches during the tournament have had sparse crowds," The Guardian reported.
The stark difference in price adjustments between matches raises questions about FIFA's long-term strategy and the valuation of its games. But for the moment, the focus is narrowly set on filling seats. Real Madrid, for their part, seems immune to these concerns, consistently drawing crowds upwards of 60,000 with 76,611 fervent fans attending their quarterfinal victory against Borussia Dortmund in New Jersey, proving that marquee matchups can still attract large audiences.
