Empty Stadiums: Has FIFA Club World Cup Failed The Fans? What Went Wrong

We’re writing history here in North America,” FIFA President told the media four days prior to the Club World Cup kick-off. 

“I’m convinced that once the ball starts rolling, everyone will realize this is something special.”

However, this seems to be far for reality as witnessed in the poor fans’ turnout for the tournament.

A total of 423,004 seats have been left empty during the opening round of FIFA Club World Cup group matches in the United States.

Stadiums have been 56.8% full, with just more than half a million (556,369) spectators showing up.

Nine stadiums have been used for the first 16 matches of the tournament, with a combined capacity of 979,373. Half of these matches have seen attendances below 50% of the capacity of the stadium.

The lowest attended game was South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns win over South Korean side Ulsan HD which took place in front of 3,412 spectators at Inter & Co Stadium in Florida. The official attendance meant the stadium was just 13.6% full.

Only 17% of the stadium was full, River Plate’s win over Urawa Red Diamonds, while it was 20% for Salzburg’s win over Pachuca in Cincinnati.

In a game that saw Chelsea beat LAFC, only 31% of the capacity of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was occupied. 

Tuesday’s noon kick-off in New York saw more than 40,000 empty seats at the Met Life Stadium for the goalless draw between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense.

FIFA Club World Cup: What Went Wrong

Inconvenient timings

Many fixtures have been scheduled during working hours — including games at noon, 2pm, and 3pm local time on weekdays. In a country where football is still building its everyday appeal, weekday afternoon kickoffs in the middle of summer were a gamble that hasn’t paid off.

Erratic Ticket Prices 

Tickets that were listed at $349 in December dropped to under $80 two days before kick-off. Some students in Miami were offered tickets for as low as $20, underscoring the struggle to fill seats even in major markets.

Distant Venues

In several cases, teams are playing far from their local or regional fanbases. LAFC played in Atlanta — more than 2,000 miles from home. Botafogo beat Seattle Sounders in Seattle, yet attendance was only 30,151 in a stadium that can hold 68,740.

Heatwave conditions

Summer in the U.S. has also made conditions punishing for both players and fans. During PSG vs Atletico Madrid at midday in Pasadena, the temperature reached 31°C (88°F). PSG coach Luis Enrique said the heat “had an impact on the game.”

Also Read: Palmeiras Beat Al Ahly 2-0 Amid Weather Delay At Club World Cup

Empty Stadiums a writing on the wall?

The low attendance at the FIFA Club World Cup is a cause of concern as the country is set to c0-host FIFA World Cup next summer along with Canada and Mexico. FIFA is optimistic that turnout will increase. In a statement on Tuesday, it said that “four of the five top-selling group stage matches are still to come”. They have reportedly spent over $50 million (£37 million) to market the tournament in a bid to boost interest.