Why Are Club World Cup Stadiums Failing to Reach Full Capacity?

The FIFA Club World Cup, recently expanded and revamped, was expected to ignite global excitement and deliver record-breaking attendance. But after the first round of group-stage matches, soccer news reports the harsh reality—fans just aren’t showing up.

MESSI MAGIC ONCE AGAIN ☄️🐐

What a free kick from the goat at the FIFA Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/EiAv4invb8

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 19, 2025

The Hype vs. Reality

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had positioned the tournament as a game-changer. “Everyone is talking about this new World Cup. That’s why it’s historic,” he told Agence France-Presse. “I’m convinced that once the ball starts rolling, everyone will realize this is something special.”

To build hype, Infantino even hinted that Cristiano Ronaldo might appear in the tournament, perhaps with a dark horse team like Inter Miami, tantalizing soccer rumors that sent expectations soaring.

But with the Club World Cup games underway, what’s drawing the most attention isn’t the football—it’s the echo in the stands. FIFA claimed that 1.5 million tickets were sold ahead of the tournament. So what happened?

Why the Empty Seats?

According to official figures, stadiums have averaged just 43% occupancy so far. The starkest example came at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Despite its capacity of 82,500, only 34,736 fans turned up for Borussia Dortmund vs. Fluminense, leaving large swathes of the stadium eerily vacant.

Several factors help explain the underwhelming turnout:

Club vs. Country: This isn’t a traditional World Cup. National pride isn’t on the line, and fans aren’t traveling in droves to support a federation. Unlike cheering for a country, club loyalty is more personal and often doesn’t extend to clubs from the same league or region. A Manchester United fan, for instance, isn’t going to fly out to support Manchester City.

Manchester City have recorded the highest attendance so far in the Club World Cup! 📈🩵

America is Blue! 🌎🩵 pic.twitter.com/p9oh9FgNvT

— City Chief (@City_Chief) June 18, 2025

Venue Size & Mismatch: While the U.S. offers top-tier stadiums, many of them, being NFL venues, aren’t well-suited to the scale of American soccer crowds. MLS has long adjusted to this reality, building 20,000–30,000-seat soccer-specific stadiums that better match demand.

Travel Challenges: Most clubs have fan bases that are thousands of miles apart. The expense and logistics of crossing to the U.S. to support their team are simply too prohibitive for many fans.

Awkward Scheduling: Matches played at noon on a Monday aren’t likely to attract a large audience. The FIFA Club World Cup schedule has been a source of frustration for fans and players alike, as some athletes have vented about it.

There’s Still Hope

Despite the empty seats, not all matches have been a letdown. 35,000 fans turned out in Philadelphia to watch Flamengo vs. Esperance de Tunis, while 40,311 braved traffic at the Rose Bowl for Monterrey vs. Inter. Both are solid numbers for neutral-site club games.

❗️Stadiums attendance in the Club World Cup (1st round).

Real Madrid – Al Hilal had the best %. pic.twitter.com/5pcKICpiin

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 19, 2025

One of the most anticipated fixtures, Boca Juniors vs. Bayern Munich, is expected to draw a comparable crowd. FIFA Club World Cup game odds have Bayern heavily favored at -480, but Boca is no stranger to upsets. A draw, listed at +525, could turn heads—and perhaps give the tournament the spark it needs.