FIFA is putting segments of the World Cup final playing field up for sale, with prices starting at $450 per piece, as soccer’s governing body looks to generate revenue even after the tournament wraps up.
The final will be played July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, featuring Spain against either England or Argentina. According to multiple outlets, FIFA is offering four pricing tiers for grass patches from the field: $450, $900, $1,200, and $3,000.
The three lower tiers include 2.5 inch cube patches of turf, though it’s unclear what sets them apart, aside from possible differences based on which section of the field the grass came from. The top $3,000 tier includes a larger 3 inch turf piece along with a gold-etched replica ticket, a miniature World Cup ball, and a crystal cut trophy replica.
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FIFA could bring in more than $11 million if every piece sells. No more than 2,026 units will be available per tier, and shipping is limited to addresses in the U.S. and Europe. Orders won’t ship until after the final concludes.
Sean Higgins, a spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, told Politico that since New Jersey covered most of the cost of preparing the pitch at MetLife Stadium, state taxpayers should share in any proceeds from the sale. It remains unclear whether FIFA and the state will reach an agreement, or how any funds would be distributed to taxpayers.
This isn’t FIFA’s first time selling field turf, the organization previously sold grass patches from last year’s Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
The turf sale adds to a list of high priced tournament items, including limited edition host city jerseys priced at $375. Ticket prices for the final have also climbed, with resale prices starting around $7,443 as of this week, even as prices for some earlier matchups dropped sharply on the secondary market.
