The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™, expected to be a "super club tournament", has fallen into a serious crisis with a small number of spectators in the stands.
On the morning of June 18, the match between Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) in Orlando attracted only 3,412 people, while the Inter & Co stadium has a capacity of 25,500. Even before the match, journalist Maher Mezahi shared that he counted only 97 people in the stands.
One viewer commented sarcastically on social media: "If it's true that less than 1,000 people came to watch Ulsan vs Sundowns, that's crazy. I just finished watching and there was almost no crowd. If this situation continues, surely Infantino will suffer the consequences?".
The Group F match between South Korea and South Africa was held in the US, thousands of miles away from home. Coupled with the fact that they are not big names with a global audience, the low viewership is understandable.
FIFA has adopted a “dynamic ticket pricing” policy, which changes according to actual demand. Faced with a bleak situation, they reduced ticket prices to $20 to attract students for the opening match against Inter Miami.
Thanks to that, more than 60,000 people filled the Hard Rock Stadium (capacity 65,000). The match between PSG and Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl (Los Angeles) on June 16 also recorded an impressive number, 80,619 spectators.
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A common image at recent FIFA Club World Cup matches. |
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confidently said: "The FIFA Club World Cup is a stage where new stories are written and new heroes emerge. This tournament creates a unique and multi-ethnic atmosphere. We thank the global fans who contributed to the heat of this event."
FIFA also emphasized the global appeal of the tournament with tickets sold to audiences from more than 130 countries, led by the US, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and France...
However, not everyone is convinced. La Liga president Javier Tebas has been blunt in his criticism: "My goal is to stop the FIFA Club World Cup. We don't need another tournament to siphon money from football to a minority."
Tebas also compared Chelsea's 2-0 win over LA FC to a pre-season friendly: "I only watched 25 minutes, and I didn't see any intensity or desire. This tournament disrupts the schedule, has no clear economic benefits, and damages the current football ecosystem."
"FIFA spends a lot of money with a total prize fund of up to 1 billion USD , but if the image of empty stadiums and indifference continues to exist, the 2025 Club World Cup is unlikely to become the top tournament that this powerful agency wants," wrote Daily Mail .
FIFA may try to paint a rosy picture of the Club World Cup, but the reality on the ground is a stark warning. Audience apathy, geographical distance, lack of competition and a staggered schedule have left the tournament with mixed reviews.
Source: https://znews.vn/dieu-gi-dang-xay-ra-voi-fifa-club-world-cup-post1561749.html
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