Home » Club World Cup: Why Empty Seats Are a Growing Problem
FIFA’s newly revamped Club World Cup is struggling to attract crowds. Despite the promise of global matchups and world-class players, empty seats have been a recurring theme. From Atlanta to Seattle, stadiums are showing more concrete than color, raising real questions about the tournament’s appeal.
Let’s start with the numbers. Some games have done relatively well:
These are encouraging signs. Big-name clubs and star players can still move the needle, especially when ticket prices are reasonable or when fanbases travel well.
But there’s a flip side:
Several factors are in play:
Fans were expected to pay upwards of $50 for opening matches, even in markets with less interest in the clubs playing. That’s a big ask for what many see as exhibition football.
Despite FIFA spending over $50 million on marketing—much of it on influencers and social media—local awareness seems low. Posters and billboards were scarce in many host cities. Most of the buzz came from international fans rather than the local community.
Monday evening matches don’t help. Neither do kickoff times that cater to overseas viewers more than locals. An 8 p.m. BST start may suit Chelsea fans in London, but it’s less appealing for Atlantans facing weekday traffic.
Hot summer nights, poor public transit, and traffic congestion made it harder for fans to get to games. In cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia, that’s a real barrier.
Fixture |
Location |
Attendance |
% Capacity |
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami |
Miami |
60,927 |
93% |
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City |
Cincinnati |
21,152 |
81% |
PSG vs. Atlético Madrid |
Pasadena |
80,619 |
90% |
Palmeiras vs. Porto |
East Rutherford |
46,275 |
56% |
Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders |
Seattle |
30,151 |
44% |
Chelsea vs. LAFC |
Atlanta |
22,137 |
32% |
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica |
Miami |
55,574 |
85% |
Flamengo vs. ES Tunis |
Philadelphia |
25,797 |
38% |
While some matches filled over 80% of the seats, others hovered closer to 40% or lower. That inconsistency is what’s worrying FIFA.
Crowds might be small, but some still brought energy. Palmeiras fans in New Jersey made half a stadium feel full. Flamengo supporters did the same in Philadelphia. The noise was there, but the optics weren’t great. Broad TV shots of empty tiers undercut the vibe.
This Club World Cup is a test run for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Five of the current venues are also hosting World Cup matches. That makes the current attendance issues more than just bad press—they’re a stress test.
Despite the early struggles, the Club World Cup still has potential. The idea of pitting clubs from every continent against each other is compelling. But for it to succeed in the U.S., FIFA needs more than marquee names. It needs buy-in from fans who live in the cities where games are played.
The football is good. The production is polished. But unless fans are in the stands, the Club World Cup risks becoming a made-for-TV event with no real heartbeat.
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