FIFA has been forced to slash ticket prices by an astonishing 35 times for the upcoming Club World Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense, following dismal sales in the United States.
In particular, originally priced at $473.90, standard seats are now going for just $13.40, making them even cheaper than tickets for some Southeast Asian national team games. The drastic price drop reflects the event’s failure to attract U.S. audiences, despite its status as one of FIFA’s most anticipated summer tournaments.
According to U.S. media outlets, the matchup has garnered little traction due to the limited popularity of the two clubs involved. While Chelsea is a globally known team, its U.S. fanbase is not as strong as Manchester United, Liverpool, or Manchester City. Meanwhile, Fluminense, despite being one of Brazil’s top clubs, remains relatively unknown to most American fans outside the Brazilian community.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Previous matches featuring both clubs also saw price drops to fill stadium seats. For instance, tickets for Fluminense vs. Al Hilal in the quarterfinals fell to $11.15 on match day, while tickets for the Chelsea vs. Palmeiras’ match dropped to under $20. Additionally, despite plummeting ticket prices, a match between Clelsea and El Tunis only attracted 30,000 fans, which is less than half of the stadium’s capacity.
In stark contrast, the other semi-final match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain is seeing surging demand. Despite a starting price of $199.60 and current average tickets going for $602, fans are scrambling to secure seats, drawn by the star power of the two European giants.
Meanwhile, many expect Chelsea to dominate in the semi-final, provided they maintain focus and composure. However, Fluminense’s path to the semi-finals has proven they’re no pushovers. Known for their solid defense and tactical patience, they could frustrate Chelsea if the Blues fail to score early. The longer the match stays goalless, the more comfortable the Brazilian side may feel.