Club World Cup struggles without Lionel Messi and Inter Miami: FIFA makes shock price cut to fill stadiums as quarter-final tickets hit rock bottom

Without one of its biggest draws, FIFA has slashed ticket prices once again, leaving fans wondering if the expanded format is living up to the hype.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promised a new era for global club soccer—32 teams, NFL-sized venues, and stars from every corner of the planet. But as the quarterfinals approach, one glaring absence is hard to ignore. Without one of its biggest draws, FIFA has slashed ticket prices once again, leaving fans wondering if the expanded format is living up to the hype.

In what many called the fairy-tale narrative of the tournament, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi made their long-awaited Club World Cup debut, achieving historic milestones in their short-lived campaign. Under David Beckham and Jorge Mas’ ownership, the six-year-old club stunned soccer purists by reaching the Round of 16 in its first-ever appearance at this level.

After drawing 0-0 against Egypt’s Al Ahly, the Herons pulled off a dramatic 2–1 win over Portuguese giant Porto, led by a signature free-kick goal from Messi. The win marked the first time an MLS side had ever beaten a European club in official competition. A 2-2 draw with Brazil’s Palmeiras followed, securing a knockout berth with an unbeaten group-stage record.

Their Cinderella run ended abruptly in the Round of 16 with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but the impact had already been made. Javier Mascherano’s side became the first MLS team to reach the knockout rounds of a Club World Cup.

Empty seats behind the headlines

Yet despite such drama on the field, FIFA faces a more uncomfortable narrative off it: thousands of empty seats, rapidly falling prices, and stagnant local interest. Since Inter Miami’s exit, ticket demand has dropped sharply, especially for non-European matchups.

In a surprising turn, quarterfinal tickets for high-stakes matches are now being sold for as low as $11.15. The bargain price was listed for Fluminense vs. Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Even the Chelsea vs. Palmeiras clash in Philadelphia was available for just $22.30.

According to Ticketmaster, these are among the cheapest prices at any Club World Cup to date. It’s a sharp contrast to January when lower bowl seats for some matches were listed near $500. Now, you can find seats in the same section for $22 to $27, depending on the matchup.

Dynamic pricing—But no dynamic crowd?

FIFA’s dynamic pricing model was meant to adapt to market demand, but fans have criticized it for fluctuating erratically. Some attendees reported buying tickets for over $200, only to see them later resold at a fraction of the price.

According to The Athletic, FIFA poured over $50 million into marketing, including social media campaigns and influencer partnerships, to boost attendance. Still, logistical and economic factors—July heat, short turnaround times between matches, travel costs, and poor kickoff schedules—have hindered ticket sales.

Even with FIFA boasting an average of 35,000 fans per game, many stadiums have looked half-empty. Chelsea’s group stage matches had disappointing turnouts: 22,137 vs. LAFC, 32,967 vs. ES Tunis, and 25,929 vs. Benfica.