Jun 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; A general view of the field and screen displaying the attendance between Auckland City FC and SL Benfica during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images

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FIFA’s Club World Cup Faces Reality Check With 1 Million Empty Seats During Group Stage

The underwhelming attendance figures were evident even at iconic venues set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The ongoing FIFA Club World Cup is grappling with a harsh reality. Over 1 million empty seats were recorded across the 48 group-stage matches, casting a dark shadow over the tournament’s ambition to become a global spectacle. Despite featuring top clubs and national champions from around the world, only 56.7% of publicly listed stadium capacity was filled during the group stage.

Only 1.67 million fans attended the Club World Cup group stage matches out of a possible 2.95 million seats – an average of 34,746 per match. Sparse crowds were particularly noticeable in Orlando, where attendances dropped to as low as 3,412 and in Cincinnati, with games drawing just 5,282 and 8,239 spectators.

The underwhelming figures were evident even at iconic venues set to host the 2026 World Cup. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the site of the next World Cup final, just 44.9% of seats were occupied across five matches. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, host of the 1994 World Cup final, saw only 50% capacity filled. Other 2026 World Cup venues fared only slightly better, with Miami Gardens at 81.8%, Philadelphia at 61.6%, Seattle at 52%, and Atlanta at 44.3%.

About 56.7% of publicly listed capacity was filled for the 48 group stage matches at the Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/Q6aevHhvMY
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2025

Low Group Stage Attendance Puts Pressure on Knockout Rounds

While FIFA highlighted the participation of fans from 168 countries as a success, the heavy number of empty seats underline the challenges of drawing consistent crowds to a tournament still seeking its identity amid a congested football calendar.

The lacklustre group stage comes despite the inclusion of major clubs and future World Cup venues designed to test operational readiness. However, organisers are now pinning hopes on a boost in energy and turnout with the arrival of heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the knockout rounds. It remains to be seen if the knockouts can inject some much-needed momentum into the tournament as it heads towards its climax.

The highest attendance in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage came when 80,619 fans packed into the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles to witness Paris Saint-Germain dismantle Atletico Madrid. Other teams drawing strong numbers included Al Ahly, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, Inter Miami, Palmeiras, and Real Madrid as each played in front of crowds exceeding 60,000.

The five highest attendances during the @FIFACWC group stage 🙌#FIFACWC
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 28, 2025

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Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.