June 18 – FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup is attracting more attention over the thousands of empty seats in stadia across the US than the football that is being played.
Originally making headlines for the prices of tickets and hyped to fever pitch, it now seems that FIFA has fallen victim of its own hype as t can’t fill the grounds even when offering $20 bundles to local students.
South African side Mamelodi Sundowns beat Korean outifit Ulsan HD in front of just 3,412 at the 25,500-capacity Inter&Co stadium on Tuesday evening – the latest embarrassment in an increasing line of low capacities at what was branded as a blockbuster, must-see event by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Despite the official 3,412 figure, some reports state the attendance was significantly less – in the triple digits.
Perhaps two less known side would be expected to draw a lower crowd, but even Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over MLS side LAFC – two of the most popular sides with US fans – clocked a crowd of 22,137 at the 71,000 capacity Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday.
The kick-off time in the middle of the afternoon to accommodate TV in Europe, didn’t help locally with a US still figuring out what the tournament really means.
Even an MLS side playing in their own stadium in their own city hasn’t captured local interest with Seattle Sounders filling less than 50% of Lumen Field for their opening loss to Botafogo. It will be interesting to see whether the crowd grows for tomorrow’s visit of Athletico Madrid.
On the positive side, European champions PSG clocked over 80,000 fans for their opening victory against Atletico on Sunday – though that remains the only fixture to break 60,000 beside the tournament’s opener featuring Inter Miami, and Messi, on home turf. Both matches had the crowd numbers driven up by multiple cheap ticket promotions.
Manchester City face Wydad Casablanca later today in Philadelphia, but so far, the city has yet to catch Club World Cup fever. Whether interest will build as the tournament progresses remains to be seen.
Manchester City has a strong U.S. presence thanks to their ownership by City Football Group, which also owns New York City FC, providing a local platform for engagement. But whether that is enough to bring fans in remains to be seen. Clubs don’t catch the wider interest generated by international teams, especially in a country where fandom in the mass market is still in its early stages.
The reality is that it’s hard for local fans to connect with a fixture like Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca. By hosting the tournament in the United States, FIFA has effectively placed the success of its attendance in the hands of a general American audience — one with limited ties and little understanding of mostg of the competing clubs, and an inability to attend matches in the middle of the working day.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1752079651labto1752079651ofdlr1752079651owedi1752079651sni@g1752079651niwe.1752079651yrrah1752079651