### FIFA Reduces Ticket Prices Due to Low Interest in Club World Cup Opener Featuring Messi and Inter Miami

With less than two weeks before the commencement of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA has been compelled to slash ticket prices for the opening match. Despite the celebrity draw of Lionel Messi, ticket sales have remained lackluster.

The opening match will see Inter Miami, led by Messi, face off against Egyptian side Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, which has a capacity of over 64,000. Ideally, as the host nation's team, Inter Miami's match should draw significant local interest, but numerous seats remain unsold, prompting FIFA to lower ticket prices.

Initially, tickets for the opening fixture, priced after the December draw, were at a steep $349. Due to ongoing poor sales, prices dropped to $230, then $110, and now stand at a modest $55 in effort to encourage more fans to attend the game on June 14.

Though Inter Miami set new Major League Soccer attendance records following Messi’s arrival in July 2023, the demand for the Club World Cup seems concentrated on European giants, such as Real Madrid. Notably, tickets for a Group E match between River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds are available for as low as $24, highlighting the disparity in demand.

This year's expanded tournament spans the United States and marks the second major international soccer event the U.S. has hosted in recent years, following the 2024 Copa América. The United States is also preparing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Despite low initial sales, FIFA president Gianni Infantino remains optimistic about ticket sales, drawing confidence from the robust audience turnouts at U.S. stadiums for various international matches.

With the world watching and tickets now more affordable, FIFA hopes local fans will fill the seats at Hard Rock Stadium and partake in the historic event.