Club World Cup ticket prices revealed to the horror of fans – with controversial dynamic pricing strategy set to be applied for FIFA's new expanded 32-team tournament
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup has already caused uproar with the addition of more games to an already congested schedule, but the emergence of ticket pricing lists may take that unpopularity to another level.
Earlier this season a number of high profile players were very open in their displeasure at the prospect of more games coming in the summer in the tournament format.
Where before only the Champions League winner would represent Europe in the Club World Cup, this season UEFA will have 12 representatives in the 32-team competition.
Those 12 are Porto, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg.
The rejuvenation of the tournament sees FIFA attempt to rival the Champions League in the stature of the competition, with 32 teams from across the world now involved.
General sale tickets are set to go live on Thursday, though a limited number of tickets have already gone out on Ticketmaster through the tournament venues.
FIFA’s expanded tournament has already sparked disgruntlement over fixture congestion
The tournament will be held in the United States next summer with 32 teams taking part
At least fans will be hoping they get something to rival the glitz and glamour of the Champions League, because according to Bayern Munich’s website, tickets to the final will start at £703.29 ($892) for upper tier seats at the grand final.
One might think there’s not a lot higher that a ticket price can go for a competition that isn’t going to even begin for another six months.
But with anyone hoping to get a lower tier seat for the final they will be looking at spending just the £1758.22 ($2230) that organisers are valuing tickets.
Prices are of course on scale depending on the gravity of the game; for lower tier tickets Bayern fans, for example, will have to pay £84.36 ($107) for their group games with Auckland FC and Benfica, and £126.94 ($161) to see their side take on Boca Juniors.
The cost then ramps up as we head for the knockout rounds; £168.73 ($214) for the round of 16, £391.85 ($497) in the quarterfinals, £784.50 ($995) to get to the last-four, and of course £1758.22 ($2230) for the grand final.
Upper tier tickets for the same games are set to cost £35.47 ($45) and £59.91 ($76) in the groups, £59.91 ($76) in the round of 16, £219.92 ($279) for a quarterfinal, £414.63 ($526) in the semis and £703.29 ($892) to attend the final.
If a fan was to attend one game from each round, to perhaps labour the point, they would be looking at between £1433.22 and £3230.24 just for tickets.
It is a huge outlay for any fan, but factor in the cost of travel to get from Bavaria to the tournament in the United States and all the trappings that come with it, and it is difficult to see how supporters are not going to be priced out of following their side.
Bayern Munich’s website has revealed how much tickets for the tournament will cost fans
For a regular ticket in 2023-24 for Bayern Munich games prices ranged from £12.41 (€15) to £66.17 (€80), which, for a club of the stature of the Bundesliga titans, is incredible value by comparison to many Premier League sides.
Tickets for the tournament will go live for participating clubs at a later date, with Manchester City already informing fans they will go on sale in January.
However, tickets will be subject to dynamic pricing, meaning that they will go on sale at a base price which could increase depending on time and demand; a concept that has recently caused disgruntlement with music concerts, such as Oasis’ reunion.
Fan groups from around the Premier League have protested this season against what they believe are ‘exploitative’ prices, which feed off the loyalty supporters have for their clubs.
At Manchester United for example, there is thought to be a growing resentment among fans over the club’s decision to raise the price of tickets for members to £66 and scrap concessions for children and pensioners.
A spokesman for the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust told Mail Sport: ‘Tickets for league home games have been gold dust for decades.
‘But fans have a limit and the fact Forest tickets are on open sale should make the club see that £66 tickets are a step too far. It’s time to reverse the decision and make sure Old Trafford remains as full as ever.’
The Football Supporters’ Association vented their fury at Valencia, who adopted dynamic pricing at the start of the season, promising ‘enormous opposition’ should the concept be introduced in England.
The development followed fan protests against the decision to increase ticket prices to £66
‘With impeccable timing after the Oasis fiasco, voices in football have started to float the idea of infecting football with dynamic pricing,’ the FSA said.
‘Never underestimate the potential for the most greedy owners in football to try to import terrible ideas from other industries to exploit supporter loyalty.
‘Matchgoers are already mobilising against the recent wave of price rises and attacks on concessions. Any underhand increases will be met with enormous opposition.’
Football Supporters Europe added: ‘FSE strongly opposes so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ in football. It is nothing but blatant greed — it’s that simple.’
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