Nearly 1.5 million tickets have been sold for the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup across the United States, marking a strong public response to the tournament, FIFA confirmed on Tuesday. However, attendance has been mixed—some matches sold out while others drew sparse crowds—underscoring a varied reception among U.S. soccer audiences.
Record Ticket Sales Signal Global Interest
FIFA reported nearly 1.5 million tickets sold for the Club World Cup, played between June 14 and July 13, 2025, across 12 U.S. cities. Fans from over 130 countries contributed to this surge in sales, indicating broad international enthusiasm. Major matches—such as Inter Miami featuring Lionel Messi and Paris Saint‑Germain’s clash with Atlético Madrid—drew more than 60,000 spectators in Miami and 80,000 at the Rose Bowl, spotlighting the draw of elite talent and marquee fixtures.
Mixed Crowds Reveal Room to Grow
Despite headline numbers, not all games resonated equally. Matches like Borussia Dortmund versus Fluminense at MetLife Stadium saw half-empty stands, while Chelsea’s opener in Atlanta had only about 22,000 fans in a stadium with a 71,000-seat capacity. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca described the experience as “a bit strange,” emphasizing the mismatch between venue size and actual turnout.
The uneven attendance mirrors fan behaviour in the U.S., where NYC and LA tend to draw bigger soccer audiences, while Atlanta and New York suburbs trail behind despite major global clubs playing there.
Infantino: Tournaments as Global Footballing Stages
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed optimism about the competition’s 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”.
Positioned as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA World Cup—co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—this tournament aims to ignite wider interest among U.S. fans, traditionally less engaged with global club soccer.
U.S. Soccer Market Shows Potential — and Limits
The event illustrates both the U.S.’s capacity to host large-scale soccer events and the uneven regional interest. Cities with MLS heritage or cosmopolitan demographics filled seats, but others lagged, reflecting the uphill task of expanding soccer culture nationwide. Still, drawing fans from over 130 nations signals rising global integration and adds legitimacy to the Club World Cup’s ambition.
Overcoming 2024 Copa América Criticisms
FIFA appears keen to rebuild confidence after the poorly attended 2024 Copa América, marred by patchy venues and security alerts in Miami. The robust early sales and large crowds at marquee games contrast sharply with that experience, indicating strong demand when the right mix of star players and locations is on display
Looking Ahead: Sustainability Matters
With 1.5 million tickets sold, FIFA is encouraged. But sustaining momentum will mean ensuring local engagement:
- Strategic pricing and marketing: Lower-cost options near $55—seen for the Miami opener—can help fill mid-tier seats.
- Localized outreach: Tailored campaigns in cities without MLS footholds may boost future attendance.
- Enhanced match experience: U.S. fans often expect pre-match shows or youth events; expanding those could elevate appeal.
Tournament as World Cup Prelude
Beyond immediate commercial results, the Club World Cup serves as a dry run for the 2026 World Cup, showcasing stadium operations, security protocols, traffic logistics, and fan engagement in diverse urban centres. Early sales success suggests the groundwork is solid, though regional adjustments remain necessary to fully utilize venue potential.
Conclusion
With nearly 1.5 million tickets sold, the expanded Club World Cup has clearly been a success in capturing global attention and driving impressive turnout for high-profile matches. Even so, mixed attendance underlines persistent regional disparities in U.S. soccer culture. FIFA’s challenge—and opportunity—is to convert this initial momentum into consistent support across all host cities, refining the tournament format as it ramps up toward 2026.
