Tickets for the Club World Cup semi-final increased from $ 473 to $ 13 in just 72 hours

The standard admission price for the semi-final of the FIFA club World Cup between Chelsea and Fluminense Tuesday afternoon at the Metlife Stadium was reduced to only $ 13.40 today (Saturday)-having been $ 473.90 less than 72 hours earlier.

It represents FIFA’s latest attempts to increase participation in their site as president, Gianni Infantino, seeks to demonstrate the proof of concept of the World Cup in inaugural clubs, broadcasters and sponsors for future editions.

It also means that it might be cheaper to buy a ticket for this semi-final than buying a cheese ($ 15) or beer ($ 14) inside Metlife. Tickets in the normally more expensive lower ring are also down $ 44.60 for the Chelsea-Flumiminense game.

Athletics Also saw evidence that FIFA volunteers for tournaments received emails last week offering them four free tickets to all matches in the quarter -final, except for Real Madrid’s match against Borussia Dortmund in Metlife.

Although volunteers are probably grateful for this opportunity, it does not seem to have been planned before the tournament by FIFA with volunteers, who remain anonymous to protect their positions, indicating that they have been informed in the training sessions in advance that free tickets would not be available. The volunteers who took the tickets for the quarterfinals were invited not to carry their uniforms when they attend the games, which could have avoided confusing the assorted spectators. FIFA did not respond directly when asked if this request should also give volunteers the appearance of being a paid member of the public.

FIFA used a dynamic pricing model during the club World Cup while using Ticketmaster as an official sales portal for competition. The price has often experienced dramatic oscillations, often downwards, during the tournament. The first semi-final of Metlife, for example, showed that the price of the cheapest standard admission tickets was $ 473.90 on Wednesday, as indicated by Athletics. Friday noon, prices were lowered at $ 44.60, while at 11:30 am on Saturday morning, they were again reduced to $ 27.90. At 1:22 p.m., the cheapest tickets fell at $ 13.40.

This means that a football fan may have bought a ticket on Saturday for 2.8% of the price that FIFA required a standard entrance only three days earlier. When asked if the fans who supported their team and the tournament earlier by buying at higher prices, up to 35 times multiple, can receive a refund or a discount, FIFA has not responded specifically. He also did not respond when he was asked if they considered that it was a fair way to treat paid football fans.

The two semi-finals will take place in Metlife, but the second match will see the winner of the Real Madrid match against Dortmund will face the winner of Paris Saint-Germain, who beat Bayern Munich earlier on Saturday. The standard entry for the second semi-final was $ 978 on Wednesday, but up to $ 199.60 by lunch on Saturday, which once again means that fans may now have spent too much by hundreds of dollars. A few minutes after the PSG victory against Bayern, the cheapest standard admission then increased by almost $ 70 to $ 266.60, while a confrontation between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund went in sight, but then fell to $ 199.60 at the half-time of the last quarter.

The prices reduced for the quarterfinals and the semi-finals can represent an admission of FIFA that they made an error by fixing the original prices so high for the tournament and overestimated the request for a newly designed tournament. The frequentation of the group’s scene represented an average of more than 35,000 fans per game, which saw certain closed counters, but many with tens of thousands of empty seats. FIFA sought to increase access and participations as the tournament lasted, which was welcomed by many of those who were able to take advantage of the experience.

The prices went to $ 11 for the two quarter -finals on Friday and $ 44 for the PSG victory against Bayern, which seemed to have a positive impact on game participations. The PSG-Bayern game saw 66,937 people present at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which returns it to around 89%. Chelsea’s victory over Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field was around 95%, while Fluminense’s victory over Al Hilal at the World Stadium campsite was 66%full.

FIFA had concerns before the tournament according to which the presence can fall below expectations. Athletics previously reported how the organization had hired much more than $ 50 million in marketing the competition, including a large expenditure for the promotion of social media and influencers. The attempts to fill the Hard Rock Stadium for the club’s World Cup opening match between Inter Miami and the Egyptian team al-Ahly involved offering students in an affiliated local college (with a network of 100,000 students) only one ticket for $ 20, but with the promise of up to four free tickets.

The cheapest entry for Inter Miami’s match against Al-Ahly dropped at $ 55 per week before the tournament, half of what they were available in May. The tickets were $ 230 for the cheapest headquarters in January and $ 349 after the draw in December.

Athletics Previously reported that FIFA planned to use a dynamic price model for the World Cup next year, which will be co-organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A FIFA declaration in response to AthleticsThe questions of read: “Volunteers are essential for the delivery of each FIFA tournament and, as a brand of appreciation for their hard work and their dedication, it is not uncommon to offer them the experience of participating in live matches if the opportunity arises. FIFA is proud of the 8,000 volunteers who provide their support for the inaugural initiatives of the FIFA Club World Cup and the invitation.

“As already mentioned on several occasions, in accordance with the practices and regulations of the local market, and as evidenced by the terms and conditions general of ticket office, the variable prices have been implemented for sales of general public tickets for all the competition matches since the start of the sale of tickets at the end of 2024.

(Top Photo: Juan Mabromata / AFP via Getty Images)