Club World Cup Group Stage Sees Over 1 Million Empty Seats Amid Knockout Phase

The Club World Cup has progressed to its knockout rounds following a group stage that witnessed over 1 million empty seats, raising questions about attendance and engagement in the tournament. Despite the empty seats, the event has attracted a diverse pool of teams, with nine European clubs and several others from Brazil, Major League Soccer (MLS), Mexico, and Saudi Arabia advancing to the round of 16.

The group stage matches recorded an average attendance of 34,746 spectators, translating to a 56.7% occupancy rate across 48 matches. Notably, five matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, managed to fill only 44.9% of their seating capacity, while the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, reported 50% occupancy. In contrast, Miami Gardens saw an impressive 81.8% capacity utilization.

FIFA, the governing body of soccer, did not disclose specific venue capacities when requested by The Associated Press, but reported a total attendance of 1.67 million from a potential 2.95 million across the group stage. FIFA's spokesman, Bryan Swanson, did not respond to queries regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino's insights on the matter. However, FIFA emphasized that tickets were sold to fans from 168 countries, indicating a broad international interest.

The tournament has also seen varying viewership numbers, with 12 matches broadcasted on TNT, TBS, and truTV averaging 360,000 viewers. This included a peak of 409,000 viewers for matches scheduled during nights and weekends.

The knockout phase promises high-stakes matchups, including an all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Botafogo, as well as a marquee encounter involving Inter Miami, led by soccer icon Lionel Messi, against Paris Saint-Germain. Other matchups feature European heavyweights like Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

The environmental conditions during the group stage were also a concern, with several matches experiencing weather delays and temperatures soaring above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). This has raised alarms about potential climate impacts on next year's World Cup, although four of the stadiums designated for the tournament are equipped with roofs and climate control systems.

Notably absent from the matches was Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, who was sidelined due to health issues but recently filed a moral harassment case against his former club, PSG. Meanwhile, Messi's performance has been pivotal for Inter Miami, contributing significantly to their progress in the tournament.

In a historical context, European teams have dominated the Club World Cup, winning 16 out of the 17 previous editions. The only exception was in 2012 when Brazil's Corinthians triumphed over Chelsea. As the tournament advances, the focus will remain on whether the European clubs can maintain their winning streak or if the South American teams can rise to the occasion and challenge the status quo.