Semi-Final tickets go on 97% fire sale amid empty stadium fears

What’s the price of watching world-class soccer? In New Jersey this week, it’s about the same as a fast-food meal.

FIFA has been humbled in its attempt to conquer the American sports market, being forced into a last-ditch fire sale for its marquee tournament. Tickets for the semi-final between Premier League powerhouse Chelsea and Fluminense have nosedived from an ambitious $473.90 to a desperate $13.40.

This isn’t an isolated incident. The entire tournament has been plagued by swathes of empty seats, prompting FIFA to drop quarter-final ticket prices in Orlando and Philadelphia to as low as $11.15. The organization’s official line is “dynamic pricing,” but fans and reporters are calling it a panic move.

The only team immune to the apathy has been Real Madrid. The legendary club has been a magnet for fans, pulling in enormous crowds, including over 76,000 in New Jersey for their quarter-final.
Their upcoming match against PSG reflects this, with the cheapest tickets still set at nearly $200. For FIFA, it’s a harsh lesson: in America, not all of global football’s giants are created equal.