The launch of the newly expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was expected to set the stage ablaze. With Lionel Messi leading Inter Miami in the tournament’s opening match against Egypt’s Al-Ahly, anticipation should have been sky-high. Instead, FIFA found itself grappling with an uncomfortable problem: a stadium with tens of thousands of empty seats.
Just days before the June 14 kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida—a venue with a capacity of over 65,000—ticket sales were far from what organizers had hoped. The match that should have sold itself with names like Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets in the lineup was in danger of being played before a half-empty crowd.
And so, FIFA realized it has to act on it—and fast.
Club World Cup opener sees huge ticket price slash
After watching demand lag for months, FIFA drastically cut ticket prices to spark interest. According to The New York Times and The Athletic, prices for the Club World Cup opener plummeted from $349 to just $55, a nearly 85% reduction from initial December rates. This significant drop underscores the concern: even Messi’s presence wasn’t enough to guarantee a sellout.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami
“Tens of thousands” of seats remain unsold, reported The Athletic, though FIFA denied that fewer than 20,000 tickets had been sold. In a statement, the organization said: “We are introducing many new, successful clubs from all over the world to the world through this tournament being staged in the 11 cities across the United States… we anticipate great attendances throughout the competition.”
Still, the lack of demand for Inter Miami’s opener—despite the Messi effect—sparked widespread surprise.
Europe still rules the box office
While Inter Miami has set MLS attendance records since Messi’s arrival in July 2023, the Club World Cup is proving a different beast. Fans appear to be reserving their money and excitement for Europe’s elite—clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. According to reports, matches involving these giants are seeing far more robust ticket demand.
The cheapest group stage ticket in the tournament belongs to River Plate against Urawa Red Diamonds, priced at just $24. In contrast, Messi’s opener barely holds at $55, despite hosting duties and the weight of global attention.
Still, FIFA remains optimistic. President Gianni Infantino told The Athletic in April: “When I see some of the stadiums in the United States filling itself when some teams are coming to play some friendly games… then I’m not worried at all to fill a stadium when teams are coming to play a World Cup, to play for, you know, something, something real.”
