Expanded FIFA Club World Cup Faces Backlash Over Congested Schedule and Controversial Ticket Pricing
The newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup has stirred significant controversy, not only for adding more matches to an already packed football calendar but also due to its contentious ticket pricing strategy.
Earlier this season, several high-profile players openly criticized the addition of summer games, expressing frustration over the strain it would place on their schedules. Traditionally, only the Champions League winner represented Europe in the Club World Cup. However, this year, UEFA will have 12 clubs competing in the 32-team tournament.
The European representatives include football giants such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Juventus, and more. This expansion is part of FIFA’s efforts to elevate the tournament’s status and compete with the UEFA Champions League.
Tickets for the general public are set to go on sale Thursday. However, a limited batch has already been made available on Ticketmaster through the tournament venues.
Adding fuel to the controversy, fan groups and organizations have slammed the implementation of “dynamic pricing” for tickets. The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) criticized the strategy, stati ng, “”
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) echoed these sentiments, calling the pricing model “blatant greed.” They emphasized that recent price hikes and cuts to ticket concessions have already mobilized fans to resist. Any further underhanded tactics, they warn, will face “enormous opposition.”
As FIFA aims to revamp the Club World Cup into a global spectacle, they risk alienating the very fans that sustain the sport. With mounting criticism over the tournament’s expansion and ticketing practices, the organization faces significant pressure to address these concerns.