Miami, June 11, 2025 — Just three days before the historic kickoff of the Club World Cup, FIFA has launched an audacious campaign to fill Hard Rock Stadium (capacity ~65,000 seats) for the opening match between Inter Miami and Al Ahly, scheduled for June 14, 2025. With fewer than 20,000 tickets sold, the global football governing body is pulling out all the stops.
🎓 Special deal with a Miami university
FIFA has struck a partnership with Miami Dade College, which has nearly 100,000 students, to offer heavily subsidized tickets. Each student can buy one ticket for $20 (approx. €17.50) and receive up to four additional tickets for free.
That means each seat ends up costing as little as €3.50!
🎟️ A true ticket clearance
This offer comes on top of a general ticket price drop by FIFA for the opening match:
- Initially priced at €306 in December, tickets are now available for €50.
- Premium seats, once listed at €725, are now going for around €260.
🔄 Dynamic pricing strategy
In response to weak demand, FIFA implemented a dynamic pricing model, adjusting prices in real time — raising them when demand increases, and lowering them when sales slow down.
🗣️ Infantino stays optimistic… but doubts remain
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated:
“The stadium will be full, the atmosphere will be excellent… It will be historic.”
However, with fewer than 20,000 tickets sold just days before kickoff, uncertainty still lingers.
🔍 Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Target audience | Miami Dade College students (~100,000) |
| Offer | 1 ticket for $20 + up to 4 free → ~€3.50 per seat |
| Standard price | Dropped from €306 to €50 |
| Goal | Fill the stadium (~65,000 seats) on June 14 |
| Challenge | Generate excitement for a match expected to be major |
📅 Key Takeaways
- When? Opening match: Saturday, June 14, 2025, Inter Miami vs Al Ahly.
- Where? Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.
- How much? As low as €3.50 per seat through the student deal.
- Why? To boost attendance after low early sales despite Lionel Messi’s presence on the field.
This bold marketing move reveals FIFA’s popularity struggles in the U.S., even with Messi on the pitch. The question remains: will this initiative be enough to fill the stadium and create momentum for the rest of the tournament?
