Club World Cup crowds have wildly fluctuated, from swathes of empty seats to ‘hostile’ atmospheres
June 21, 2025
The opening week for the monthlong Club World Cup has seen some wildly fluctuating attendances across the United States. A crowd of 3,412 watched Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan in Orlando. At the other end of the spectrum, more than 80,000 watched Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadenam California. While there was not a sellout game in the opening week, 10 of the first 24 matches have seen crowds in excess of 40,000, for an average of around 36,000. But optics, not just numbers, matter for a tournament FIFA hopes will become one of the most important in sport.
