The Club World Cup is grappling with a serious popularity crisis. Recent matches have seen shockingly low attendance—Chelsea vs LAFC had 48,863 empty seats, Porto vs Palmeiras saw 36,225, and Sounders vs Botafogo had 38,589 vacant spots. Even more concerning: none of the remaining 55 fixtures have sold out.
Despite FIFA’s ambition to turn this into a global spectacle, fans aren’t buying in. Oversaturation of football competitions, lack of historical rivalries, and poor local engagement are major factors. Many view the tournament as low-stakes and skippable.
Staging games in massive stadiums without demand only highlights the problem. If FIFA hopes to make the 2025 edition a success, it must rethink its strategy—smarter venue selection, better storytelling, and a real reason for fans to care. Right now, the Club World Cup feels more like a corporate product than a coveted prize.
