FIFA was right.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ is attracting considerable interest from fans.

Surrounded by skepticism and criticism since the announcement of the idea to expand the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ to a 32-team tournament, the World Football Federation (FIFA) has faced considerable pressure – from experts, the press, to even players and coaches. There are concerns that this will be a “cheap version” of the World Cup, a risky commercial gamble, a tournament forced into a festival but essentially empty.

But then, as the ball started rolling and the stands filled, it seemed that the crowd – not FIFA – was the one offering the most forceful rebuttal.

Right from the first two matches, the numbers speak for themselves, helping FIFA regain the upper hand in the battle for public opinion. The opening match between Inter Miami and Al Ahly attracted 60,927 spectators – just a few thousand seats short of the Hard Rock Stadium's maximum capacity (64,764).

Meanwhile, the clash between PSG and Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl – an iconic venue in American soccer – saw a packed audience of 80,619 people. That's not just an impressive number, but a record in the tournament's history, even compared to previous versions with only seven teams.

Immediately afterwards, FIFA seized the opportunity to launch media campaigns with a distinctly "I told you so" tone: thank-you posters, proud tweets, and press releases affirming this was "a fantastic start to a historic Club World Cup."

They're right. Because in an age where the appeal of sports is increasingly dependent on images, social media, and statistics, a full stadium is just as important as a goal.

The matches in the tournament attract large crowds to the stadium.

This initial success didn't come from luck. FIFA chose the right venue, the right team, and the right time. Organizing the opening match featuring Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) was a clever way to create a buzz. Bringing PSG and Atletico Madrid – two star-studded, stylish teams – to the famous stadium in Los Angeles was a way to test how much America truly cares about soccer. And the answer, at least for now, is positive.

However, these concerns haven't completely disappeared. Bayern Munich's 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City has raised worries about the league's quality.

The disparity in skill levels remains a thorny issue, and not all spectators want to witness one-sided, grueling matches. But perhaps FIFA accepts this as part of the "cost of globalization." They believe that if they can create a sufficiently captivating atmosphere, those minor flaws will be drowned out by the wave of support and large-scale sporting and cultural events.

Above all, FIFA understands one thing very well: this year's tournament doesn't need to immediately become a second Champions League. It just needs to survive well, make a good impression, and open doors to new markets – like the US, the Middle East, or East Asia. If audiences in major cities continue to fill the stadiums, if the stars continue to play and give their all, then the tournament has every reason to exist – and to thrive.

Two matches don't tell the whole story, but they're enough to shift public opinion somewhat. And if there's one lesson to be learned from that beginning, it's this: football is always unpredictable – not just on the pitch, but also in the public's mind. What was once ridiculed as "Infantino's pipe dream" is now gradually becoming a vivid reality in the stands.

FIFA hasn't completely won yet. But after the first two matches, it's clear they haven't lost.

Source: https://znews.vn/fifa-da-dung-post1561358.html