FIFA throwing $1,000-a-ticket Club World Cup ‘official celebration' party
FIFA is throwing a gala to 'celebrate' the Club World Cup at a venue on Wall Street in New York City – and attendees are being charged thousands of dollars to party with its President Gianni Infantino and, according to the co-organizers, FIFA World Cup stars.
The co-organizers Big Art (an international event management company) promoted the event on Instagram with an attached link to book tickets via a WhatsApp sales representative.
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The representative described the event as 'the official celebration of the FIFA Club World Cup finals.' The event promised a headline performance by the British popstar Rita Ora and 'world class entertainment curated throughout the night.'
Ticket prices start at $1,000 per person for a silver category entry, rising to $2,000 for platinum entry and $3,000 for a black category entry. Promotion on Big Art's Facebook page said the 'VIP event will gather Legends of the game, FIFA's top leadership and a handpicked guest list of international figures from business, fashion and culture.'
A sales representative said in their opening message on WhatsApp that Infantino will attend, before adding that Kaka, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Roberto Baggio will also be there. All four players have either been involved in sponsorship activations, or spoken positively about the tournament or attended games with FIFA during the Club World Cup.
The event is scheduled to take place on July 10, a day after the second semi-final and three days before the final.
A spokesperson for FIFA confirmed FIFA and Big Art are working together on a gala dinner and that FIFA is both attending and co-branding. It added that FIFA attendees are still to be confirmed.
The Big Art sales representative also said that this paid-for entry represented a 'rare opportunity to align your brand with FIFA and engage directly with global decision-makers, influencers and icons from across the world.'
FIFA did not comment when asked by The Athletic what role it had in the pricing of the event, or whether it is appropriate for individuals or brands to spend thousands of dollars to engage directly with FIFA leadership.
FIFA said it would not receive any revenue from the event but had not replied by the point of publication about who the revenue will go to.
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FIFA subsequently promoted the event on its website, without mentioning the prices, but said that the night 'will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a gala dinner featuring world-class cuisine, fine wines and high-end production befitting the truly historic and game changing tournament.'
Big Art have been contacted for comment.
Last month, the first ticketing packages for next summer's men's World Cup went on sale with the release of a collection of high-end hospitality options.
The initial release was limited to certain hospitality offerings involving several games packaged together, starting at $3,500 (£2,625) per person and climbing to an eye-popping $73,200 (£54,750).
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