FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Empty Stadiums, Tough Schedules, and One-Sided Matches
The FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2025, held in the United States, promised to be a game-changer for football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called it a historic event that would make the sport better. However, after the first three days, the FIFA Club World Cup has faced challenges that have dimmed its shine. From empty stadiums to tough match schedules and unbalanced games, the tournament has not lived up to the hype. So, what’s going wrong?
A Big Start with Lionel Messi
The FIFA Club World Cup kicked off on June 14, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Football legend Lionel Messi led Inter Miami against Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening match. Although the game ended in a 0-0 draw, thousands of fans showed up to watch Messi play. Famous former players like David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Kaka watched from VIP seats, adding star power to the CWC opener.
FIFA worked hard to make the tournament exciting. They gave Inter Miami a special “host nation” spot in the CWC, as the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular-season winners. Infantino even hinted that Cristiano Ronaldo might play, and the winner’s prize money was increased by $35 million. These moves were meant to make the FIFA Club World Cup the biggest club competition in the world. But, after the opening match, things started to go off track.
Empty Stadiums at FIFA Club World Cup
One of the biggest issues at the FIFA Club World Cup is the low number of fans at some matches. While Messi’s game in Miami and Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) match against Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles drew big crowds, other games saw mostly empty seats. For example, on June 16, Chelsea played Los Angeles FC (LAFC) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Only 22,137 fans attended, filling less than one-third of the 75,000-seat stadium. Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, called the atmosphere “a bit strange.”
Similarly, a FIFA Club World Cup Group C match between Brazil’s Flamengo and Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia had just 25,797 fans in a 69,000-seat stadium. In Seattle, a Group B game between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders drew 30,151 fans to a 69,000-seat venue. Even at MetLife Stadium, which will host the CWC final, a match between Palmeiras and Porto had only 46,275 fans in an 82,500-seat arena.
FIFA says nearly 1.5 million tickets have been sold for the FIFA Club World Cup, with fans from over 130 countries attending. However, 13 of the remaining 36 group-stage games are scheduled for weekday afternoons. These timings may keep crowds low, as many fans might be at work. The empty stadiums are a big concern for the CWC’s success.
Tough Schedules and Player Burnout
Another major issue at the FIFA Club World Cup is the match schedule. Games are set for noon and 3 PM local time, often in hot summer weather. During PSG’s match against Atletico Madrid on June 15 at the Rose Bowl, the temperature reached 31°C (87.8°F). PSG coach Luis Enrique said the heat slowed down his team’s play. Midfielder Vitinha added that the conditions were tough but the team managed well.
Each team in the FIFA Club World Cup plays three group matches in just nine days. This tight schedule is normal for international tournaments, but it’s a problem for players who are already tired from long seasons. European and Middle Eastern clubs, like Bayern Munich and Al Ahly, just finished their domestic and international seasons. Meanwhile, teams from the US, South America, and Oceania, like Inter Miami and Auckland City, paused their leagues to join the CWC.
Players’ union FIFPRO warned about this issue before the CWC started. They said the June 15 to July 13 schedule ignores players’ mental and physical health. FIFPRO noted that too many games can lead to exhaustion, injuries, and mental health problems. They asked FIFA to focus on player safety, but the schedule stayed the same.
FIFA claims it cares about player welfare. They added an extra substitution and a concussion substitute for FIFA Club World Cup matches. They also have cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minutes if the temperature exceeds 32°C (89.6°F). However, these steps haven’t fully addressed the concerns about player burnout at the FIFA CWC.
One-Sided Matches
The FIFA CWC has also seen some very unbalanced games. On June 15, Bayern Munich crushed Auckland City 10-0, setting a record for the most goals in a single match. Bayern, a 34-time German champion, scored four goals in the first 21 minutes against Auckland, a team of semi-pro players with regular day jobs. Bayern’s coach, Vincent Kompany, said the game felt like practice and looked forward to tougher matches, like against Boca Juniors.
Auckland City, ranked 4,957th in the world, is the Oceania champion. They face tough opponents in their group, including Benfica (ranked 24th) and Boca Juniors (ranked 131). Other lower-ranked teams, like Al Ain, Urawa Reds, Wydad Casablanca, and Ulsan HD, also face strong clubs in the FIFA CWC. These mismatched games make some matches less exciting, as top teams dominate weaker ones.
Uneven matchups are common in global tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, where small teams play giants. However, in the FIFA CWC, the gap between teams seems too wide. This could hurt the tournament’s appeal if fans see more one-sided games.
Can the FIFA Club World Cup Bounce Back?
The FIFA Club World Cup has had a rocky start, but there’s still time for it to improve. With 32 teams and matches across 12 US stadiums, the tournament has the potential to excite football fans. Stars like Messi, Kylian Mbappé (PSG), and Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) bring global attention to the FIFA Club World Cup. If FIFA can address the scheduling issues, boost ticket sales, and create more competitive matchups, the tournament could gain momentum.
For now, the FIFA CWC faces challenges that need quick fixes. Empty stadiums, tough schedules, and one-sided games have taken away from the excitement. Infantino’s dream of a historic tournament is still possible, but changes are needed to make the FIFA Club World Cup a true success.
FAQs About FIFA Club World Cup 2025
- Why are stadiums empty at the FIFA Club World Cup?
Some FIFA Club World Cup matches have low attendance due to weekday afternoon kickoffs and high ticket prices. For example, Chelsea vs. LAFC in Atlanta had only 22,137 fans in a 75,000-seat stadium.
- How does the FIFA Club World Cup schedule affect players?
The FIFA CWC’s tight schedule, with three matches in nine days, adds to player fatigue after long domestic seasons. Hot weather, like 31°C during PSG’s game, also makes playing harder.
- Why are some FIFA Club World Cup matches one-sided?
The FIFA CWC has uneven matchups, like Bayern Munich (ranked 6th) vs. Auckland City (ranked 4,957th). Top clubs dominate lower-ranked teams, leading to results like Bayern’s 10-0 win.
