FIFA Offers Extra Free Tickets to Fill Stadiums at the Club World Cup

FIFA has been distributing additional complimentary tickets for matches at the Club World Cup, aiming to boost attendance at the event. Earlier reports indicated that spectators who purchased tickets for Chelsea’s weather-delayed victory over Benfica in Charlotte were offered four free seats for the match between Inter Milan and Fluminense at the same venue. The offer was presented as a form of compensation due to the two-hour delay caused by thunderstorms.

Similarly, ticket holders for Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Inter Miami at Atlanta’s indoor Mercedes Benz Arena were later offered two free tickets to Borussia Dortmund’s last-16 game against Monterrey. Despite these incentives, attendance at some fixtures has been notably low; for instance, the Dortmund match drew approximately 31,442 spectators in a 71,000-capacity stadium.

FIFA has also previously moved ticket purchasers to seats facing camera angles to enhance the perceived crowd size on broadcasts. Though some matches have seen strong attendance, many have failed to generate significant interest among the American public. The upcoming quarter-finals featuring clubs like PSG, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are expected to draw larger crowds.

However, a match of particular concern is between Brazilian side Fluminense and Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, taking place at Orlando’s 65,000-capacity Camping World Stadium on Friday afternoon. FIFA is likely hoping that the more high-profile games will attract larger audiences to improve the tournament’s atmosphere.

FIFA has been offering more free tickets to increase crowd sizes at the Club World Cup.