Club World Cup Attendance Woes: 1 Million Seats Unfilled Spark 2026 World Cup Concerns

The Club World Cup group stage has concluded, revealing a concerning trend of low attendance figures. A staggering one million seats remained empty across the 48 matches played, casting a shadow over the tournament and raising questions about fan engagement a year before the United States is set to host the 2026 World Cup.

Of the teams advancing to the round of 16, nine hail from Europe, four from Brazil, and one each from Major League Soccer (MLS), Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the presence of renowned clubs, attendance figures paint a less-than-stellar picture. Approximately 56.7% of the total publicly listed capacity was filled during the group stage. Some matches in Orlando, Florida, drew crowds as low as 3,412 and 6,730, while Cincinnati saw attendances of 5,282 and 8,239. Notably, FIFA has yet to disclose specific capacity figures for each venue, despite repeated requests for clarification.

The total announced attendance for the group stage was 1.67 million out of a potential 2.95 million, translating to an average of 34,746 spectators per match.

The MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, future site of the 2026 World Cup final, saw only 44.9% of its seats filled across five matches. Similarly, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, which hosted the 1994 World Cup final, reached only 50% capacity.

Other 2026 World Cup host cities also experienced varying attendance rates. Miami Gardens, Florida, filled 81.8% of its capacity, while Philadelphia reached 61.6%, Seattle 52%, and Atlanta 44.3%.

Despite the concerning attendance figures, FIFA released a statement emphasizing the global appeal of the tournament. "The appetite of the tournament speaks for itself: fans from 168 countries have already purchased tickets... a clear sign of global anticipation and reach," the statement read.

Television viewership for the tournament has been moderate. The 12 games broadcast with English commentary on TNT, TBS, and truTV averaged 360,000 viewers through Monday, with primetime and weekend matches drawing slightly larger audiences of around 409,000.