NEW YORK (AP) – The owner of Spanish soccer club Mallorca says FIFA risks damaging the sport’s image with ticket prices for next year’s World Cup.
Andy Kohlberg, a former professional tennis player who took over the club two years ago, said speaking after a promotional event on Tuesday: “The message that’s been getting out so far has been mainly negative, and that’s not a good thing.”
FIFA has declined to publish ticket price lists for tournaments in the United States, Mexico and Canada, as it has done for other World Cups since at least 1990. The most expensive regular seat costs $6,730. Tickets for the finals are available for 104 games and the cheapest tickets are $60.
The FIFA website offers hospitality tickets at the best prices. $73,200 per capita for eight games, including the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In addition, the governing body collects a 15% commission from sellers’ proceeds and charges buyers a 15% commission, according to the FIFA resale site.
“They have to be careful. They’re getting a lot of bad press,” Kohlberg said. “You have to cater to mainstream fans and at the same time provide a high experience for those who are willing to pay. But you can’t alienate your core fan base by combining such an average ticket price with a ticket price that is so high that it may be much higher in terms of numbers, but not as much in terms of revenue from stadium events.”
FIFA said in a statement: “The pricing model adopted reflects existing and evolving market practices on a day-to-day basis in co-organizers of major entertainment and sporting events, including football.” It added that “resale fees are in line with industry trends across various sports and entertainment sectors” and that “revenues generated by FIFA from the World Cup will be reinvested to drive the growth of the game.”
FIFA did not release additional pricing details.
Kohlberg expressed caution about: La Liga: Barcelona’s December 20 match against Villarreal decided to be moved from Spain to Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first European major league game to be held in the United States.
“We have to have a lot of foresight and caution because it’s going to piss off some fans,” Kohlberg said. “In Spain it’s more controversial that people get upset if the game is played outside their country, outside the stadium, but in the US they welcome the NFL to play in London. It’s not the same over there. The culture is different, the mindset is different, so we have to tread very carefully.”
Kohlberg hasn’t decided whether he will attend the Miami Dolphins’ game at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I’m going to pay attention,” he said, “but looking at the media, what is the backlash that’s going on in Spain, and is it subsiding or is it getting worse? And what is the American market’s reaction to that game in terms of attendance and fan ratings? And what was that experience like?”
Mr. Kohlberg, who lives in the San Diego suburbs, was initially a non-controlling owner; A group led by then-Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver took control of Mallorca. In a deal announced in January 2016. Former NBA stars Steve Kerr and Steve Nash Among the club’s investors is former US soccer player Stu Holden, and Kohlberg said another big name would be announced soon.
The Spanish league, dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona, has the difficult task of attracting more American interest than England’s Premier League.
“With (Kylian) Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, I think we have some momentum and can continue to grow. We believe they will never be the same as in the Premier League, but the gap will start to narrow little by little,” Kohlberg said. “The Premier League and NBC have done a great job and spent a huge amount of money, so I don’t think La Liga or ESPN can match that. But they can do enough to close the gap and I think that’s the hope.”
Mallorca, who have played in Spain’s First Division since the 1997-98 season, finished in the top 10 in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, won the Copa del Rey in 2003 and reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1999, but lost to Italian club Lazio. The Estadi Mallorca Son Moi was renovated in a project completed last year, creating seven premium areas to attract supporters to the Balearic Islands-based team.
“We have the demographic that can afford it and we will do it, but it will be very difficult to do what we are doing in Levante, Elche and Alaves,” he said. “That’s not going to work. But with 18 million tourists coming, there’s a small demographic that’s going to be in the game.”
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
