Unpolished atmospheres and sporadic attendance at FIFA's Club World Cup
Stunned FIFA Statements Reveal Club World Cup Audience Figures
Football enthusiasts flock to stadiums, but not without issues. FIFA, the football governing body, is reflecting on their newly-introduced Club World Cup, acknowledging a mix of successful and disappointing attendances. FIFA president Gianni Infantino praises the multicultural ambiance and support generated by the tournament.
In a three-day span, over 340,000 people have spectated the games, as announced by FIFA. The opening match in Florida's bustling metropolis garnered 60,927 spectators, while the game between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid attracted 80,619 fans to the Rose Bowl of Pasadena.
However, not all games have been well-received by audiences. An unfortunate 34,736 spectators showed up at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the World Cup opener between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, only 21,152 spectators attended FC Bayern Munich's 10-0 victory against Auckland City in Cincinnati.
The game between Chelsea and Los Angeles FC in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a stadium capable of seating 71,000, had a more bizarre outcome—only 22,000 people turned up. Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca described the experience as "strange."
It's worth noting that games featuring traveling South American and North African supporters have typically had higher attendance, offering a captivating vibe but falling short of Gianni Infantino's grand vision for the tournament as a worldwide spectacle against Europe's top clubs.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/dpa
- Major League Soccer
- Club World Cup 2025
- Fifa
- Gianni Infantino
{Enrichment Data: While some matches garnered a modest crowd, mostly by dedicated traveling fans, others were met with poor local engagement and logistical issues. Factors such as game timing, limited awareness, ticket pricing, and marketing efforts contributed to the varying attendance. The tournament faced a significant challenge in filling seats, even using venues designed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.}
I'm not going to be able to attend the football matches at the Club World Cup due to poor local engagement and logistical issues in some games. Despite the multicultural ambiance and support generated by the tournament, the relatively low attendance, especially at certain matches, seems to be a recurring problem.
