FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup has kicked off in the United States with global fanfare but mixed domestic reception, as attendances vary dramatically across host cities. With nearly 1.5 million tickets already sold to fans in over 130 countries, the tournament has seen early success on paper — but not all stadiums are living up to the spectacle.
A packed Hard Rock Stadium in Miami witnessed more than 60,000 fans turn out for the opening match on Saturday, featuring Inter Miami star Lionel Messi. One day later, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted approximately 80,000 spectators as Paris Saint-Germain swept aside Atletico Madrid 4-0, delivering one of the tournament’s most electric atmospheres to date.
Yet, not all fixtures have drawn the same fervour. A goalless draw between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense on Tuesday saw vast swathes of empty seats at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which had been hoped to be a centrepiece venue. The match’s midday kick-off time has been cited as a possible reason for the disappointing turnout.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remarked on the subdued atmosphere at his side’s match against Los Angeles FC on Monday, where only just over 22,000 spectators turned up at Atlanta’s 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “It was a bit strange,” Maresca admitted after the final whistle.
Despite the inconsistent crowds, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remained bullish on the tournament’s broader impact. “This is exactly what the FIFA Club World Cup was created for: a world-class stage where new stories are told, new heroes emerge, and club football fans feel part of something bigger,” Infantino stated.
The 2025 edition marks the first Club World Cup to be held under a newly expanded format, with 32 clubs from around the world competing — a model that mirrors the structure of the FIFA World Cup. The tournament is also being closely watched as a dry run for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
However, lingering concerns remain over whether the U.S. is fully prepared to embrace football on this scale. The 2024 Copa América, also held stateside, faced criticism for poor pitch conditions, underwhelming attendances, and a chaotic fan situation during its final in Miami — all of which have left FIFA eager to correct course ahead of 2026.
With big-name clubs still in action and knockout stages yet to come, there remains time for the tournament to find its rhythm. For now, though, the atmosphere across the U.S. remains uneven, as FIFA’s bold experiment continues to unfold.
