FIFA has reduced ticket prices for the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea at MetLife Stadium, just a year before the venue hosts the 2026 World Cup final. Despite global stars and high stakes, slow domestic demand has prompted a price drop to boost attendance.
FIFA Reduces Club World Cup Final Ticket Prices at MetLife Amid Sluggish Sales
With Paris Saint-Germain set to face Chelsea in Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final, the stakes on the pitch couldn’t be higher. But off the pitch, FIFA is facing a challenge of a different kind — empty seats.
Just one year ahead of the 2026 World Cup final set to be staged at the same venue, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is hosting the biggest club fixture of the year. However, despite the glamour of two European heavyweights and a historic final on U.S. soil, ticket sales haven’t met expectations.
According to a report from USA Today’s Safid Deen, FIFA has responded by cutting prices across several ticket tiers in an effort to fill more seats ahead of Sunday’s clash. The cheapest seats, initially priced at $312.20, have been reduced to $249.75. Mid-range seats, previously ranging between $440 and $546, are now listed between $334.50 and $473.90.
Notably, the top-tier luxury seating options remain untouched. Seats in the East Club section still go for $1,644.65, while the ultra-exclusive EY Coaches Club holds firm at $4,348.50 apiece — a price point more reflective of a Super Bowl than a Club World Cup final.
Mixed Attendance for a Global Tournament
Despite its marquee billing and expanded 32-team format, this year’s Club World Cup has struggled to consistently draw the kind of sell-out crowds FIFA hoped for. While the tournament has attracted a cumulative 2.4 million fans across 62 matches, averaging 38,000 per game, there have been noticeable gaps in the stands — particularly in larger NFL-style stadiums where expectations were clearly ambitious.
To FIFA’s credit, more than 20 matches have pulled crowds above the 50,000 mark, but that enthusiasm hasn’t translated evenly across the board. Part of the issue may lie in the timing and market: the American summer sports calendar is crowded, and while interest in European club football is growing in the U.S., it still doesn’t command the local passion reserved for international events or domestic sports like the NFL and NBA.
Star Power on the Pitch, Uncertain Pull in the Stands
This weekend’s final features no shortage of star power. PSG arrive after a resounding 4-0 semi-final win over Real Madrid, while Chelsea saw off Fluminense with a composed performance of their own. It’s a fitting final, pitting two of Europe’s most expensively assembled squads against one another with global bragging rights on the line.
And yet, even with Kylian Mbappé now departed from PSG and the likes of Neymar no longer involved, marquee names like Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos, Enzo Fernández, and Christopher Nkunku should offer enough quality to draw neutral fans.
But the slower-than-expected ticket uptake tells a different story. Even the potential attendance of former U.S. President Donald Trump — who reportedly plans to be present after attending the most recent Super Bowl — hasn’t sparked a late rush.
The situation raises deeper questions about the tournament’s resonance with American fans. While international tournaments like the Gold Cup and Copa América have thrived in the U.S., a club competition, no matter how prestigious, might still feel unfamiliar to the average sports fan.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The final at MetLife Stadium is more than just a curtain-closer for the Club World Cup — it’s also a dry run for next year’s World Cup final at the very same venue. For FIFA and U.S. Soccer, the event serves as a litmus test of infrastructure, crowd management, and atmosphere ahead of the sport’s biggest stage.
That’s part of what makes the reduced prices significant. It’s not just about filling seats for a one-off event. It’s about ensuring that football’s growing momentum in the United States isn’t dented by a lukewarm showcase when the global audience is watching.
For now, Sunday’s final remains a high-stakes encounter with a trophy on the line. But in the bigger picture, it may also shape how FIFA markets future editions of the Club World Cup — especially in emerging football markets where fan behavior differs from traditional strongholds.
