Featured Image: Vishal Butolia/ Unsplash
Ticketing finance consultant Pierino Gattei has worked with global football governing body FIFA since 2009 on its biggest tournaments, including every men’s World Cup from 2010 onwards.
It has turned into a balancing act, juggling the immediate needs of current tournaments and the long-term needs of stabilising future events.
Prior to TheTicketingBusiness Forum 2025, which begins in Manchester on April 28, we spoke to Gattei to find out more.
What projects are you currently working on?
Pierino Gattei: “I am currently working on FIFA Club World Cup 2025, FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Brazil and forward planning the financial payment systems for 2028 onwards.”
What are your aims for 2025?
PG: “My first aim is to ensure a clean delivery of the financial aspects of the Club World Cup.
“Being the inaugural tournament [to be played under the 32-team format] and a key event for further detailed learning the nuances of ticketing in the USA, there are a lot of aspects which need pulling together in a very short space of time.
“The next big aim later in 2025 is to be ready for the start of men’s World Cup sales.”
What’s the biggest upcoming challenge for you?
PG: “Events are hard deadlines and activities get squeezed into an ever-shortening time period.
“Creating time to deal with the unanticipated is a key challenge.
“Throwing people in at the deep end is high risk and very rarely works, and working extended hours can lead to a deficiency in performance, decision making and short-term health.”
What is the most exciting development in the industry for you right now?
PG: “With the explosion of new technologies, there is an escalation of a paradox of choice.
“Normally, selecting a service provider is much like a courtship – best behaviour and best face forward – now add into that inexperience, and jumping into bed early, making long term promises in the hope of a valuable long-term relationship.
“This drive to innovate, decreasing the scope for technological maturity, whilst still providing stable solutions for events is very exciting.”
Explore the future of ticketing with Pierino Gattei and hundreds of other industry leaders at #TBF25 at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from April 28-30. BOOK TODAY.
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