FIFA slashes ticket prices to $13.40 for Chelsea vs Fluminense semifinal

In the United States, FIFA made a significant adjustment to ticket prices for the Club World Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Fluminense, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This decision was announced days ago, as the price for standard tickets was reduced drastically from $473.90 to just $13.40. This move came as part of FIFA's dynamic pricing strategy for the 63-game tournament, which has been marked by inconsistent attendance at many matches. In addition to this match, standard ticket prices for the semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, scheduled to take place later at the same venue, are set to start at $199.60. This pricing trend highlights FIFA's ongoing effort to boost attendance and engagement during the tournament, working against the backdrop of a generally sparse crowd for a number of games. Prior to the current semifinal, FIFA also reduced ticket prices for previous matches, including a quarterfinal in Orlando between Fluminense and Al Hilal and another in Philadelphia featuring Chelsea and Palmeiras. Tickets for these matches were priced as low as $11.15, indicating FIFA's recognition of the need to attract fans to the stadiums, especially when certain matches, like those involving Real Madrid, consistently drew larger crowds. The pricing decisions reflect the challenges FIFA faces in ensuring that a wider audience can access its events, particularly as the tournament progresses and interest levels fluctuate. While Real Madrid managed to fill its matches with at least 60,000 fans over five games, general attendance across the tournament was not as robust. As such, FIFA's pricing strategy aims not only to enhance the experience for fans but also to stimulate enthusiasm around the Club World Cup event overall.