Fifa football museum in Zurich set to lose $30m in its first year Published duration 10 November 2016

image copyright AFP image caption Fifa President Gianni Infantino (left) with former World Football Museum director Stefan Jost at the opening of the attraction

Fifa's World Football Museum in Zurich is set to lose 30 million Swiss francs (£24m; $30m) this year, according to Swiss media reports.

The attraction, which opened nine months ago, explores football's history through multimedia, memorabilia and archive photos.

It cost 140m francs to build, and was the pet project of former Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

A working group now hopes to figure out a better business model.

The museum's spokesperson Delia Fischer confirmed the losses to the Tages Anzeiger newspaper , saying "new, innovative approaches" were being explored to keep the museum afloat.

The team trying to save the tourist site includes Fifa special adviser and former Croatia captain Zvonimir Boban, and Evelina Christillin, who is president of the Egyptian Museum in Turin and sits on the Fifa Council. They will make their suggestions in January 2017.

It was hoped that 250,000 visitors annually would enjoy the story of the beautiful game, but the number showing up is around 11,000 a month - or 132,000 a year.

Ms Fischer told the Telegraph that if the numbers don't pick up, the museum will be unable to "do business viably beyond 2016".

image copyright AFP image caption A woman and child visit the World Football Museum, which features interactive exhibits and artefacts

The World Football Museum stands in the heart of Zurich. It covers 3,000 square metres on three floors, and features a library, a sports bar, a cafe, a bistro, and a 180 degree cinema.

Two World Cup trophies which were formerly kept in a Zurich bank safe are also on display.

The first sign of the museum's woes came in October, when its managing director left over "contrasting views" on its future.