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FIFA’s Club World Cup: Epic Hype Meets Empty Seats originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino boldly dubbed the 2025 Club World Cup “epic,” yet the tournament’s launch paints a starkly different picture. Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta saw 50,000 empty seats haunting the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ticket sales have plummeted, exposing a troubling lack of public interest per BBC.com.
This isn’t the spectacle FIFA envisioned. Reports confirm fewer than 25,000 tickets sold for the opener featuring Inter Miami and Al-Ahly, despite slashed prices to as low as $20 with up to four free tickets offered per TheAthleticFC. Fans aren’t biting, and the empty stands scream apathy.
One-sided matches aren’t helping. Auckland City’s 10-0 thrashing by Al-Hilal was less a contest and more a massacre, hardly the thrilling showcase FIFA promised. Such lopsided scorelines leave fans yawning, not cheering, questioning the tournament’s appeal.
Infantino’s grand vision, with an expanded 32-team format meant to rival UEFA’s Champions League, feels like a misstep. La Liga’s Javier Tebas called for its scrapping, citing disinterest from broadcasters, clubs, and sponsors. The lack of a global broadcast deal underscores the event’s shaky foundation.
Ticket sales tell a grim story. FIFA’s desperate price cuts, some as low as $10 for premium matches, haven’t moved the needle. Hard Rock Stadium’s opener with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faces similar fears of sparse crowds.
The "Epic" Club World Cup maybe FIFA's biggest flop ever with empty stadiums.Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Public disengagement is palpable. Social media buzz on X reveals fans mocking the empty seats, with some calling it “FIFA’s flop of the century.” The contrast between Infantino’s hype and reality stings.
Quotes from Jonathan Tannenwald, chief soccer correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says FIFA's marketing is to blame.
Clubs aren’t thrilled either. Chelsea’s win, powered by goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, was overshadowed by the eerie silence of empty stands per NYTimes.com. Players deserve better than performing to echoes.
FIFA’s response? Denial. Officials claim low sales aren’t a concern, yet their actions, offering credits and free seats, suggest panic. The organization’s credibility takes a hit as fans stay home with some watching it free on TV.
The tournament’s format isn’t the only issue. Hosting matches in the U.S., far from many clubs’ fanbases, alienates supporters. Travel costs and lukewarm interest in non-local teams don’t help.
Infantino’s “epic” label feels like a cruel jest. Missing a fan buy-in, the Club World Cup risks becoming a costly embarrassment. FIFA must rethink its approach or face further humiliation.
Can FIFA salvage this? Maybe more competitive games later in the tournament might help ticket sales, but for now, the empty seats speak louder than Infantino’s bravado.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino boldly dubbed the 2025 Club World Cup “epic,” yet the tournament’s launch paints a starkly different picture. Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta saw 50,000 empty seats haunting the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ticket sales have plummeted, exposing a troubling lack of public interest per BBC.com.
Scheduling Kick Off at 3pm on a Monday wasn't the brightest idea.
This isn’t the spectacle FIFA envisioned. Reports confirm fewer than 25,000 tickets sold for the opener featuring Inter Miami and Al-Ahly, despite slashed prices to as low as $20 with up to four free tickets offered per TheAthleticFC. Fans aren’t biting, and the empty stands scream apathy.
One-sided matches aren’t helping. Auckland City’s 10-0 thrashing by Al-Hilal was less a contest and more a massacre, hardly the thrilling showcase FIFA promised. Such lopsided scorelines leave fans yawning, not cheering, questioning the tournament’s appeal.
"When you come here you have to do a lot of marketing," he said. "You can't just expect people to turn up.
Infantino’s grand vision, with an expanded 32-team format meant to rival UEFA’s Champions League, feels like a misstep. La Liga’s Javier Tebas called for its scrapping, citing disinterest from broadcasters, clubs, and sponsors. The lack of a global broadcast deal underscores the event’s shaky foundation.
Ticket sales tell a grim story. FIFA’s desperate price cuts, some as low as $10 for premium matches, haven’t moved the needle. Hard Rock Stadium’s opener with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faces similar fears of sparse crowds.
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The "Epic" Club World Cup maybe FIFA's biggest flop ever with empty stadiums.Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Public disengagement is palpable. Social media buzz on X reveals fans mocking the empty seats, with some calling it “FIFA’s flop of the century.” The contrast between Infantino’s hype and reality stings.
"There was no true local organizing committee in the US because FIFA were doing it all in-house"
Quotes from Jonathan Tannenwald, chief soccer correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says FIFA's marketing is to blame.
Clubs aren’t thrilled either. Chelsea’s win, powered by goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, was overshadowed by the eerie silence of empty stands per NYTimes.com. Players deserve better than performing to echoes.
FIFA’s response? Denial. Officials claim low sales aren’t a concern, yet their actions, offering credits and free seats, suggest panic. The organization’s credibility takes a hit as fans stay home with some watching it free on TV.
The tournament’s format isn’t the only issue. Hosting matches in the U.S., far from many clubs’ fanbases, alienates supporters. Travel costs and lukewarm interest in non-local teams don’t help.
Infantino’s “epic” label feels like a cruel jest. Missing a fan buy-in, the Club World Cup risks becoming a costly embarrassment. FIFA must rethink its approach or face further humiliation.
Can FIFA salvage this? Maybe more competitive games later in the tournament might help ticket sales, but for now, the empty seats speak louder than Infantino’s bravado.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
