The 2026 edition of the World Cup, the most elite and best competition in world football, will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Although there is a joint host, the main focus will be on the superpower United States. The ongoing Club World Cup can be considered an ‘acid test’ for which. But the United States is on the back foot due to one adverse incident after another. One of these is the lack of spectators. The ticket price has been reduced by 56 thousand taka in a single jump due to the fear of something similar in the semi-finals.
The semi-finals of the Club World Cup are starting today (Tuesday). Former English champions Chelsea and Brazilian club Fluminense will face each other in the first semi-final at 1 am Bangladesh time. The capacity of the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is 82,500. But based on the experience of the World Cup group stage and other round matches, FIFA is worried that the gallery will not be completely filled. That is why the ticket price for the Chelsea-Fluminense match has been reduced by more than 56 thousand taka.
According to the pre-determined list, the ticket price for the first semi-final at MetLife Stadium was $473.90 or 57,867 taka. The new price has been set at 1,636 taka. FIFA had already set different prices for 63 matches in the ongoing tournament according to the importance of the match. But the desired attendance of spectators was not seen due to adverse weather conditions, intense heat and the demand for football on American soil. Although the ticket price for the Chelsea-Fluminense match has been set at 1,636 taka, the ticket price for the second semi-final of Real Madrid-PSG will be $199.60 or 24,372 taka.
Earlier, The Athletic first reported on the dramatic ticket price cuts by FIFA. The world football governing body had slashed ticket prices to $11.15 for the Club World Cup quarter-final between Al Hilal and Fluminense in Orlando and the Chelsea-Palmeiras match in Philadelphia. The attendance figures for most of the World Cup matches have not been encouraging for FIFA. The only exception is Real Madrid, which had five matches with at least 60,000 spectators.
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund faced off in the quarter-finals in New Jersey last Saturday night. There were 76,611 spectators in the gallery. After a tense battle, Real won the match 3-2 and advanced to the semi-finals. However, the stadium has been a regular sight since the beginning of the ongoing tournament. With most of the tickets unsold, FIFA President Gianni Infantino appealed to the spectators at the start of the Club World Cup, saying, “Be part of history. It’s an important event for football around the world. There are billions of spectators who can watch the game at home, but at the same time they love the club and come to the field.”
On June 16, Chelsea and the United States’ Los Angeles FC faced off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the group stage of the World Cup. Only 22,137 football fans came to watch the game in this 71,000-capacity stadium. Seeing this, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca became angry, “The atmosphere is very strange. The stadium was almost empty. Of course, as professionals, we have to adapt to this situation. We are used to playing in stadiums full of galleries.”
FAQ
Why did FIFA cut ticket prices for the Club World Cup?
FIFA reduced ticket prices because attendance at several matches was lower than expected. The price cut aims to attract more fans to the stadiums.
How much were the ticket prices reduced?
While exact amounts vary by match and location, some tickets saw significant price drops—up to 50% in certain cases.
Why is the Club World Cup seeing poor attendance in the USA?
There are several reasons, including lack of local fan interest, high original ticket prices, limited awareness of the participating clubs, and competition from other summer sports events in the U.S.
Which matches had the lowest turnout?
Matches involving lesser-known clubs or those held in less popular venues saw the lowest attendance. Specific figures vary by location.
