The first round of the expanded Club World Cup in the United States has seen significant attendance struggles, with over 400,000 seats left vacant across nine stadiums. Despite high expectations, matches have averaged just 56.8% capacity, with total attendance reaching 556,369 spectators out of a combined stadium capacity of 979,373.

The match between Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and South Korean club Ulsan HD saw the lowest attendance, drawing just 3,412 fans at the Inter & Co Stadium in Florida—filling only 13.6% of available seats. Local journalist Maher Mezahi painted an even bleaker picture, claiming he counted just 97 fans present at kickoff, rising to 577 in the closing minutes.

Similarly poor attendances were noted elsewhere. Only 17% of seats were filled for River Plate's victory over Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds, while RB Salzburg's clash against Mexican club Pachuca attracted only 20% capacity in Cincinnati.

Even the high-profile fixture involving Chelsea and LAFC was sparsely attended, with just 31% of Atlanta's vast Mercedes-Benz Stadium occupied. Journalist Doug Roberson from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution attributed the low turnout largely to awkward scheduling: "The people aren't here because it's Monday at 3pm. Frankly, I am surprised there are as many as there are."

Despite these setbacks, FIFA remains optimistic, highlighting that ticket sales have reached nearly 1.5 million. The highest attendance so far was recorded at California's Rose Bowl Stadium, where 80,619 fans watched Paris St-Germain's commanding 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

Matches hosted in Miami, a city with a substantial Hispanic and Latino community, also drew impressive crowds. The opener featuring Inter Miami against Egyptian giants Al-Ahly had a robust attendance of 60,927, while Boca Juniors' match with Benfica saw over 55,000 spectators. Another Miami match saw 62,415 fans gather for Real Madrid's 1-1 draw against Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Interestingly, matches held in smaller stadiums achieved significantly higher occupancy rates. Juventus’s victory against Al-Ain and Bayern Munich's dominant 10-0 triumph over Auckland City drew 18,161 and 21,152 fans respectively, filling 91% and 81% of the stadiums. This highlights a potential misjudgement by FIFA in scheduling some fixtures in excessively large venues, especially during working hours.

Another factor impacting attendances is the concurrent CONCACAF Gold Cup, held across the United States and Canada. Even the USA’s match against Trinidad and Tobago attracted only 12,610 fans in an 18,000-seat stadium—a significant drop from the 40,000 who watched the same fixture two years ago.

The scheduling overlap between the two tournaments, combined with awkward match timings during weekday afternoons, poses a challenge for FIFA. As the Club World Cup continues, addressing these logistical issues will be crucial to boost attendances and enhance fan experiences ahead of the much-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

With several high-demand matches still upcoming, FIFA remains hopeful that the empty seat issue will soon be remedied, enhancing the tournament’s reputation as a premier footballing event.