FIFA struggling to sell tickets for USMNT’s World Cup opener vs. Paraguay
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Ticket sales for the U.S. vs. Paraguay World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium are lagging, with only about 40,934 tickets sold by April 10, compared to higher sales for other matches like Iran vs. New Zealand at the same venue.
- High ticket prices for the opener, with Category 1 tickets at $2,730 and Category 2 at $1,940, have deterred many fans, leading to slow sales and numerous tickets remaining available even during the "Last-Minute Sales Phase."
- FIFA has not raised prices for the U.S. opener, unlike other matches, but has also been holding back tickets to create scarcity, complicating the true picture of ticket availability and sales.
- Secondary-market ticket listings show many U.S. opener tickets being resold below face value, indicating weaker demand and potential pressure on FIFA to reduce prices before the tournament begins.
- Factors contributing to slow sales include the U.S. team's inconsistent home crowd support, high ticket costs compared to other matches, and strong diaspora attendance for other teams like Iran, whose tickets are significantly cheaper.
