FIFA is grappling with a tepid response to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The authorities in charge are doing possibly everything — from slashing ticket prices to closing off parts of stadiums — in a bid to salvage the atmosphere for the tournament’s kickoff on June 15.
The competition, set to begin on Sunday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, will feature Al-Ahly taking on Inter Miami in the opening clash. Despite the high-profile fixture and a revamped format expanding the tournament to 32 teams, ticket sales have fallen well short of expectations.
Unsold seats for a Messi game?
The 65,326-capacity Hard Rock Stadium has thousands of unsold seats, raising concerns that the opening night could be marred by empty stands. Originally, the cheapest tickets were priced at $349 after the December draw. Now, seats are being listed for as low as $67 on FIFA’s official ticketing partner. FIFA’s drastic measures reflect mounting concern over optics and engagement for what is projected to be one of club football’s marquee global tournaments.
With Inter Miami and Lionel Messi expected to be a major draw, the slow ticket sales have surprised many observers. Even more striking, FIFA has partnered with Miami Dade College to offer a student promotion, up to four free tickets with the purchase of one at a reduced student price of $20, effectively pricing per seat at just $4.
Despite these steep discounts, tickets with an obstructed view still cost over $69 on Ticketmaster as of Saturday and it remains unclear how many have been sold overall. The venue will host eight matches in total during the tournament.
Where and when to watch in India?
All matches of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be streamed for free on the DAZN website and app in India. DAZN, a London-based streaming and entertainment platform, has previously broadcasted major tournaments such as the AFC Asian Cup 2019 and UEFA’s Men’s and Women’s Champions League in select regions. DAZN signed an agreement with FIFA in December last year, securing the rights to stream the entire Club World Cup for free to viewers.
The match will kick-off tomorrow morning at 5.30 am as per the Indian timing.