Club World Cup: Ticket Sales Success, But with Uneven Attendance
The Club World Cup, in its expanded format, has kicked off with a remarkable response in terms of ticket sales. According to data provided by FIFA this Tuesday, almost 1.5 million tickets have been sold to fans from more than 130 countries for the matches being played in the United States. The tournament, which began last weekend, has seen outstanding attendance in some matches. The opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which featured Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, attracted more than 60,000 spectators. Likewise, at the Rose Bowl, approximately 80,000 fans witnessed Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Atlético Madrid. However, some matches have registered a smaller attendance. The match between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, which ended in a 0-0 draw, was played at a MetLife Stadium with a lower-than-expected attendance.The tournament, conceived as a pre-event to the 2026 World Cup, seeks to generate enthusiasm among American fans, who will co-host the tournament next year along with Canada and Mexico. However, concerns persist about the players’ workload, as this summer tournament adds between three and seven additional matches for teams that have just finished their European seasons and will begin the 2025-26 campaign in August. The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, has called the Club World Cup “absurd” and has requested its removal from the FIFA competition calendar. The team that is crowned champion in the final on July 13th will take home a prize of $40 million from a total pot of $1 billion.This is exactly the purpose of the FIFA Club World Cup: a world-class stage where new stories are told, new heroes emerge, and club football fans feel part of something bigger.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
