For a competition that FIFA hoped would become a global spectacle, the newly expanded Club World Cup is off to a bumpy start — and not just on the pitch.
Despite all the money, marketing, and Messi-fueled hype, the real story this week has been the shockingly empty stadiums.
Orlando Turnout Falls Flat with Just a Handful of Fans
On Tuesday afternoon, a match between Ulsan Hyundai and Mamelodi Sundowns took place at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando — a venue that can seat over 25,000 people.
How many actually showed up? Fewer than 600, according to early estimates by journalist Maher Mezahi.
With 10 minutes left before kickoff, Mezahi counted just 557 fans.
Eventually, the “official” attendance was reported as 3,412 — but photos told another story, showing massive sections of empty red seats.
Rain, Delays, and Disappointment
To make matters worse, the Orlando game was delayed due to bad weather.
Teams were sent back into the locker rooms, and kickoff didn’t happen until more than an hour after scheduled.
Even when play resumed, the atmosphere was more reminiscent of a training session than a world-class tournament.
FIFA Tries to Spin the Numbers
Despite the visible lack of turnout, FIFA released a statement celebrating the competition’s success so far.
According to the organization, more than 1.5 million tickets have been sold, and around 340,000 fans attended the first eight matches.
They also claimed that the most popular games — four of the top five best-sellers — were still to come, attempting to keep the narrative upbeat.
Students Get Discounted Tickets as Prices Drop
Organizers have started slashing ticket prices to boost interest.
General admission for some games dropped to around $20, with college students getting the best deals.
For Chelsea’s opener against LAFC at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the entire top tier of the 75,000-seat venue was closed off.
Only about 22,000 fans showed up — barely a quarter of the stadium’s capacity.
Fans Online Voice Their Frustrations
Social media lit up with commentary about the poor turnouts.
One fan joked, “Seen bigger crowds at non-league football grounds.”
Another tweeted, “If it’s true that less than 1,000 people are at Ulsan vs Sundowns, that’s mad… surely Infantino will face repercussions?” — though they quickly added, “Who am I kidding?”
Not All Matches Were Flops
It wasn’t all doom and gloom. The opener between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Al-Ahly drew a solid crowd of more than 60,000 fans in Miami.
And when Paris Saint-Germain played Atletico Madrid at the iconic Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, a massive 80,619 fans packed the stadium.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called these moments proof of the Club World Cup’s global impact, saying, “This is exactly what the competition was created for — a world-class stage where new stories are told and new heroes emerge.”
FIFA Dangles Big Money to Justify the Hype
If the fans aren’t fully sold yet, maybe the prize money will help. FIFA has put up a staggering £775 million pot for the tournament.
Just showing up earns European teams £20 million.
Wins in the group stage are worth £1.5 million, and even a draw bags £800,000.
Progressing through the knockout rounds boosts the cash even more, with the winner potentially walking away with over £30 million.
FIFA Says Interest Is “Global” — But Critics Aren’t Buying It
FIFA insists that the tournament has sparked worldwide interest, claiming fans from over 130 countries have purchased tickets.
The top 10 countries for ticket buyers include the US, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, France, Japan, and Germany.
But even with that data, critics say the enthusiasm just isn’t showing up in the stands.
LaLiga Boss Says Club World Cup Is Unnecessary
One of the harshest criticisms came from LaLiga President Javier Tebas.
He said bluntly, “My goal is to ensure there are no more Club World Cups.”
According to him, the tournament adds more pressure on clubs and players without bringing meaningful value to the sport.
He even admitted to watching just 25 minutes of Chelsea’s game against LAFC — and described it as looking like a “preseason friendly” with no intensity.