World-Class Ambitions, Empty Seats: The Harsh Reality of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S.

The Grand Opening: Hopes, Hype, and Hard Rock Stadium

Did you know that the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off with grand ambitions at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, but the crowd didn’t quite match the hype? FIFA had promised a spectacle, bringing together 32 top clubs from around the world, with a staggering $1 billion prize pool and a month-long festival of football. Yet, despite the star power of Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, the opener against Egypt’s Al Ahly saw just over 60,000 fans in a stadium built for 65,000—many of whom got their tickets at steep discounts or even for free. The empty seats were hard to ignore, and social media quickly turned the scene into a meme. This wasn’t the packed, electric atmosphere FIFA had envisioned.

Ticket Troubles: Why Aren’t Americans Filling the Stands?

You might be wondering, why didn’t the tickets sell out? The answer is a mix of high initial prices, unfamiliar teams for the local market, and scheduling that clashed with American summer routines. FIFA started with ticket prices as high as $230, but as the opener approached, prices fell dramatically—some fans paid as little as $4 thanks to last-minute college student promotions. Even with Messi on the pitch, the demand just wasn’t there. Reports from The Athletic and other outlets highlighted that tens of thousands of seats remained unsold just days before kickoff, forcing FIFA into damage control mode. The organization even issued partial refunds to early buyers who paid top dollar, hoping to avoid backlash.

A Tournament of Superlatives—But Is Bigger Always Better?

FIFA’s new format was supposed to be revolutionary: 32 teams, 63 matches, and a structure mirroring the World Cup. The idea? To create a true global club championship, with teams earning their place through continental triumphs. But the reality is more complicated. Many of the clubs, while giants in their home countries, are relatively unknown in the U.S. market. Only a handful of teams—like Real Madrid, Manchester City, or PSG—have significant name recognition among American fans. The rest? Not so much. The expanded format has also drawn criticism from players and coaches, who argue that it overloads an already packed football calendar and risks player health.

Cultural Barriers: Soccer’s Place in the American Sports Landscape

Here’s something overseas fans might not realize: while soccer is growing in the U.S., it still competes with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and a packed summer of local sports and entertainment. The Club World Cup’s group stage matches, often scheduled during weekday afternoons, struggle to attract working fans. Plus, club loyalty in the U.S. is still developing—most fans are more passionate about national teams or individual stars like Messi than about foreign clubs. The tournament’s attempt to create a ‘World Cup’ atmosphere for clubs has run into the reality that American fandom is a different beast. Even with the U.S. set to host the 2026 World Cup, the Club World Cup feels more like a dress rehearsal than a main event.

Security, Immigration, and the Politics of Attendance

Did you know that security concerns and U.S. immigration policies have also played a role in the attendance woes? Reports surfaced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would have a visible presence at stadiums, sparking anxiety among immigrant communities—a key demographic for soccer fandom in the U.S. Some fans stayed away, fearing ID checks or political tensions. This added another layer of complexity to FIFA’s challenge: how do you create an inclusive, global festival in a country where the politics of borders and belonging are front and center?

Community and Online Reactions: Between Optimism and Criticism

Online communities like Reddit, Naver, and Daum have been buzzing with debate. On Reddit’s r/soccer, fans were quick to point out that FIFA may have overestimated the U.S. appetite for club football, especially for matches not involving megastars or local teams. Korean blogs and forums echoed similar sentiments, with some users expressing disappointment at the empty stands and others arguing that the tournament’s expanded format dilutes its prestige. On Naver, a poll showed roughly 40% positive, 60% negative sentiment about the event’s organization, with top comments like “Too many games, not enough fans” and “FIFA should have learned from the Copa America’s struggles in the U.S.”

What Overseas Fans Should Know: The U.S. Soccer Context

If you’re following from abroad, it’s important to understand the unique dynamics at play. The U.S. is a massive, diverse market where soccer is still finding its place. While younger fans (especially 18–34) are driving growth—83% of this group say they’re likely to watch—the general sports landscape is crowded. For many American fans, the Club World Cup is a curiosity, not a must-see. FIFA’s hope is that the tournament will help soccer ‘arrive’ on the U.S. stage, but the early signs suggest that building a true club football culture here will take more than big stadiums and big names.

Looking Ahead: Lessons for FIFA and Global Football

So, what’s next? FIFA is betting that as the tournament progresses, excitement will build, especially for knockout rounds featuring European giants. But the early struggles are a wake-up call: global ambitions need local understanding. Pricing, scheduling, security, and cultural resonance all matter. For now, the 2025 Club World Cup stands as a lesson in the challenges of exporting football’s club culture to new frontiers. Will it succeed in the long run? Only time—and the fans—will tell.