The expanded Club World Cup 2025 is facing early challenges with underwhelming attendance figures in its opening matches. More than 400,000 seats remained empty across the first round of group games held in the United States, raising concerns about the tournament's appeal and organisation. Stadiums were only 56.8% full, with a total attendance of 556,369 out of a combined capacity of 979,373 across nine stadiums.
The tournament is viewed as a crucial test event for the upcoming international men's World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico next year. However, the low attendance rates are casting a shadow over preparations.
Mamelodi Sundowns Match Suffers Lowest Turnout
The match between South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and South Korean side Ulsan HD recorded the lowest attendance, with only 3,412 spectators present at Inter & Co Stadium in Florida. This meant the stadium was a mere 13.6% full. Journalistic reports even indicated that the actual number of fans present before kick-off was significantly lower than the official figure.
Other Matches Struggle to Attract Crowds
- River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds: 17% stadium capacity
- Salzburg vs. Pachuca: 20% stadium capacity
- Chelsea vs. LAFC: 31% stadium capacity at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Despite these setbacks, FIFA remains optimistic. The organisation stated that “four of the five top-selling group stage matches are still to come” and that nearly 1.5 million tickets have been sold in total. The highest attendance so far was recorded at the Rose Bowl Stadium in California, where 80,619 fans watched Paris St-Germain defeat Atletico Madrid.
The coming matches will be crucial in determining if the Club World Cup 2025 can overcome its initial attendance struggles and build momentum towards a successful tournament. The lessons learned from these early stages are invaluable for planning the World Cup next year.