Shock reveals itself in FIFA's declarations regarding spectator turnout at the Club World Cup
The FIFA is currently feeling a mix of excitement and surprise after hosting the first three matchdays of the Club World Cup. The governing body of football is thrilled with the crowd turnout, praising the unique multicultural atmosphere and fan support that the new competition has generated.
According to the FIFA, over 340,000 people watched the games in stadiums. This includes the sold-out opening match between Al-Ahly FC and Inter Miami (0-0) in Florida's metropolis with 60,927 spectators and the game between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid (4-0) with 80,619 fans in the Rose Bowl of Pasadena.
But the Club World Cup isn't without its less-attended games. Only 34,736 spectators watched the opening match of Borussia Dortmund against Fluminense Rio de Janeiro (0-0) at the MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of 82,500. The game of FC Chelsea against the Los Angeles FC in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which can accommodate 71,000 spectators, garnered only 22,000 fans.
The Role of Popularity, Timing, and Affairs
The attendance figures at the Club World Cup games varied considerably. This can be attributed to several factors such as team popularity, match timing, venue location, and ticket pricing. Big-name teams, like PSG and Chelsea, attracted larger crowds, while lesser-known teams struggled to draw substantial numbers. Matches scheduled at inconvenient times for local fans also affected attendance. Larger stadiums sometimes struggled to fill seats unless the matchup was highly attractive, while smaller venues sometimes saw larger-than-expected crowds.
The Hits and Misses of the Club World Cup
Some of the most well-attended games included the PSG vs. Atletico Madrid match at the Rose Bowl, the opening game at Hard Rock Stadium featuring an almost full house, and the Chelsea vs. LAFC game at Mercedes Benz Stadium. On the other hand, the match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan Hyundai saw one of the lowest attendances, with only around 3,412 fans in a stadium that could hold 25,500.
The Club World Cup, despite its mix of hits and misses, has proven to be an exciting and unique event, generating a multicultural atmosphere that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is proud of. As the competition progresses, it will be interesting to see how attendance trends continue to evolve.
I'm not going to be able to attend the Club World Cup match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan Hyundai, unfortunately, as it seems many other football fans have found the match timing or team popularity unappealing, resulting in lower attendance. On the other hand, the football matchup between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl was a hit, attracting enthusiastic crowds of sports fans from different cultures.
