The coincidence of two major soccer events in the United States this weekend felt almost orchestrated. While Donald Trump staged an underwhelming military parade in Washington DC, the opening ceremony of FIFA’s Club World Cup unfolded in the nearly empty Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Trump’s jingoistic celebration sharply contrasted with the hundreds of thousands who participated in the “No Kings” anti-Trump rallies nationwide. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had claimed that the opening match, featuring Inter Miami and Al Ahly, would draw a full house. However, attendance was announced at a far less satisfying 60,927 in the stadium that holds 64,767, despite ticket prices being slashed from $349 to just $4.
This event kicked off not only the expanded Club World Cup but also the Concacaf Gold Cup, initiating a 13-month span during which organizers hope to position the United States as a premier soccer destination leading up to the 2026 World Cup.
Despite the buildup and attempts by analysts at Dazn to generate excitement, the atmosphere felt lackluster, akin to the prominent advertisements for Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund surrounding the tournaments. Neither event managed to elevate excitement significantly, with attendance figures underscoring this sentiment.
In the Gold Cup opener, the U.S. men’s national team secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago, managing to rebuild some enthusiasm amidst a recent disappointing streak. Nevertheless, only 12,610 fans attended the match at the 18,000-seat PayPal Park in San Jose.
Surprisingly, Mexico’s match against the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood drew a mere 54,309 fans from the stadium’s 70,240 seats, despite the LA area being a significant market for El Tri. The other opening Club World Cup matches also struggled with attendance, including Paris Saint-Germain’s decisive 4-0 victory against Atlético Madrid, which brought in only about half of the Rose Bowl’s capacity.
A standout moment was Bayern Munich’s staggering 10-0 win over Auckland City, which should have filled the 26,000-seat venue in Cincinnati. However, fans displayed their feelings succinctly with a banner commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Baur au Lac raid, which exposed FIFA corruption, declaring, “World football is more poorly governed than before! Smash FIFA!”
Attendance did not improve during the weekend’s Gold Cup double-header in San Diego, where matches between Saudi Arabia and Haiti and Costa Rica and Suriname resembled a sparsely attended wedding event.
The high ticket prices initially set by FIFA likely did not help matters, despite a recent pricing adjustment. Concacaf is also known for its steep ticket rates, which often lead to half-empty stadiums. In fact, when the United States presented its World Cup bid with Mexico and Canada over eight years ago, it projected an average ticket price of $305 for the group stage.
Amidst the disappointing attendance, there were enjoyable moments. The U.S. team’s impressive win and the challenge posed by the Dominican Republic to Mexico added a spark to the proceedings. Al Ahly dominated much of the first half against Inter Miami but could not secure a goal, with a disallowed effort and a failed penalty kick characterizing their performance. Lionel Messi later stole the show with a near-miss from a long-range shot, demonstrating once more the unpredictable and thrilling nature of soccer, despite the circumstances surrounding these events.
Ultimately, while high-profile money grabs like these often raise questions, the essence of soccer continues to resonate, reminding fans of the sport’s enduring appeal.