FIFA hasn't just found a way to charge you for a World Cup ticket. Now they'll charge you for the grass too.
Soccer's governing body is selling segments of the turf that will be used for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — $450 per piece, shipped only after the match is played. Each section comes "permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB keepsake" and arrives in what FIFA describes as "a premium hinged shoulder box with striking spot UV detailing."
Whatever that means.
The price of everything, the value of nothing
To put this in context: FIFA is already selling standard tickets to the final for up to $32,970. Hospitality packages — the kind with food and drinks included — are listed at $34,500. And now, if you couldn't afford a seat, you can at least buy a square of grass for $450 and tell people you own a piece of the occasion.
The listing on FIFA's store describes each piece as measuring 17.5 by 17.5 by 17.5 — though the governing body neglected to specify whether that's inches, centimeters, or millimeters. FIFA didn't respond to a request for clarification on that particular detail. Authenticity film is included, apparently.
What makes this particularly awkward is that players and coaches have already been openly critical of the MetLife surface. The stadium normally runs artificial turf for NFL games played by the Giants and Jets. FIFA has laid natural grass over it for the tournament, but concerns about quality haven't gone away. So the pitch being marketed as "iconic" is the same one that's drawn complaints before a ball has even been kicked in anger.
Collectible, or just expensive?
FIFA is limiting delivery to addresses in the United States and Europe. Orders won't ship until after the final — which at least means the piece of turf you're buying will have technically been used for the match, even if the dimensions of it remain a mystery.
For a governing body that's spent years battling accusations of financial overreach, selling the actual playing surface in commemorative chunks — at $450 a go — is a choice. A very on-brand one.
