The lead-up to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been overshadowed by controversy, and opinions on the tournament, which began on June 14, remain divided. Much of the recent criticism focuses on the poor fan turnout, with large sections of seats left empty in stadiums across the United States.

FIFA Club World Cup attendance figures

More than half a million people (exactly 556,369) have attended the first 16 games, which might seem impressive. However, this translates to stadiums being only 56.8% full, leaving 423,004 seats unoccupied.

Some matches have been successes. For instance, Real Madrid's draw against Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami drew 62,415 fans, filling 96% of the capacity. Similarly, 80,619 spectators attended Paris Saint-Germain's victory over Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, though 10% of the seats were empty.

Yet, several games have failed to attract significant crowds from both local and traveling fans. The most notable examples include Ulsan HD versus Mamelodi Sundowns, with only 3,412 attendees (13.6% of Inter&Co Stadium's capacity in Orlando), and Pachuca against RB Salzburg, which drew 5,282 fans (20% of TQL Stadium's capacity in Cincinnati).

Why is attendance so low at FIFA Club World Cup games?

Several factors may explain the disappointing turnout for certain matches.

Tournament expansion: Not all growth is beneficial

The tournament's expansion has been welcomed in some regions but has resulted in a lineup of teams with varying levels of quality and global appeal.

While matchups like PSG versus Atlético Madrid or Manchester City against Juventus excite soccer fans, it's no surprise that games like Ulsan versus Mamelodi Sundowns in Orlando drew few attendees. These clubs are relatively obscure internationally and are playing far from their home bases.

Kickoff times

With teams from around the world participating, FIFA faces challenges in scheduling games that suit viewers globally.

This has affected in-stadium attendance, as several matches start at 12pm or 3pm local time on weekdays, when many locals are working. A prime example is Chelsea's win over LAFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a 71,000-seat venue that only drew 22,137 fans. In contrast, Chelsea nearly sold out a preseason friendly against Newcastle United in the same stadium two years ago, which was held in the evening.

Gold Cup overlap

The 2025 Gold Cup, featuring teams like the USMNT, Mexico, Canada, and Saudi Arabia among its 16 participants, is occurring simultaneously in the United States and Canada. It started on June 14 and ends a week earlier than the Club World Cup.

This concurrent scheduling has hurt attendance for both tournaments, as they compete for the same audience.

Lack of genuine interest?

One critique of expanding the FIFA Club World Cup is that it addresses a demand that never existed.

Some view it as a personal initiative by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to emulate the successful UEFA Champions League for prestige and financial gain.

Given the abundance of soccer matches available year-round, the FIFA Club World Cup might be attempting to fill an unnecessary niche.

With only a week into the event, it's premature to draw final conclusions. However, as attention remains on this new addition to elite soccer, the empty seats will continue to be a focal point until they are no longer an issue.