The 2025 Club World Cup group stage wrapped up with a concerning statistic: nearly 1 million empty seats across 48 matches, casting a shadow over the buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Despite high hopes, the tournament averaged just 56.7% capacity filled, with 1.67 million fans attending out of a possible 2.95 million.
Some of the most notable attendance gaps appeared at key venues. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — set to host the 2026 World Cup final — saw just 44.9% capacity filled across five matches. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, iconic site of the 1994 World Cup final, reached only 50% capacity. Other 2026 World Cup host cities also reported underwhelming figures: Miami Gardens fared better at 81.8%, while Philadelphia filled 61.6%, Seattle 52%, and Atlanta just 44.3%.
Some matches drew particularly sparse crowds, such as 3,412 and 6,730 fans at two Orlando games and 5,282 and 8,239 at games in Cincinnati.
On the pitch, the round of 16 features nine European clubs, four Brazilian sides, and one team each from Major League Soccer (MLS), Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
Television audiences were modest. The 12 English-language broadcasts across TNT, TBS, and truTV averaged 360,000 viewers, with slightly higher numbers — around 409,000 — for games played at night or on weekends.
In a statement, FIFA sought to emphasize the global appeal of the event, noting that fans from 168 countries purchased tickets, a figure it framed as evidence of strong international anticipation for the expanded Club World Cup and the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
As the Club World Cup heads into its knockout rounds, the lackluster attendance serves as both a challenge and an opportunity for organizers preparing for the biggest event in world soccer next year.
