Club World Cup | The average attendance rate of 54% in the first three days, with the lowest number of players in a single game being only 3,412. FIFA should be responsible for this

When the broadcast camera swept through the stands of Orlando Stadium, the openness of the "Ghost Stadium" formed a cruel contrast with the scene of the players sweating on the green field. On June 18, Mamelodi Sunset defeated Ulsan HD 1-0 in the first round of the F Club World Cup Group F. There were only 3,412 spectators in this game, setting a record for the lowest entry of the audience in this event. FIFA tried to set off the feast atmosphere of the Club World Cup, but now it is difficult to wash away the "stains" of the large number of empty seats.

"In the United States, friendly matches can fill the stadium. If you bring the Club World Cup and top players to compete for the championship, you will definitely fill it up." FIFA President Infantino said confidently in April this year.

But reality shattered this bold statement - according to data released by FIFA, the average attendance rate of venues in the first three days of the game was only 54%, with an average of 36,126 spectators in 12 games. This number is acceptable alone, but the horizontal comparison pales in comparison: the 2022 World Cup averaged 53,191 players, the 2024 European Cup 52,314 players, and the Copa America last year also reached 49,406. What's even more embarrassing is that 10 of the 12 games were arranged in giant stadiums such as rugby professional stadiums, which far exceeds the actual demand, making the stands even more empty and deserted. The volatile pricing strategy formulated by FIFA, which is too optimistic, has also become a fatal mistake. In the first round of ticket sales in December last year, the lowest ticket price for the opening match was as high as US$223, and the low ticket price for most group matches exceeded US$100. FIFA subsequently reduced prices due to poor sales - at the end of May, ticket prices for 26 group matches were as low as $50 but were still unsalable. The high prices in the early stage had seriously damaged public trust, and the price cuts were difficult to reverse the collapse of the event's impression.

For South American and African fans, the Club World Cup is of extraordinary significance, but it is blocked by layers of real difficulties: the long schedule makes it expensive to go to the US game, and the complex process and strict review of applying for a US visa have become the last level to block dreams. The experience of 28-year-old Egyptian fan Gamal Husney is quite representative. As a hardcore fan of the Cairo Nationals, he was still refused to sign after applying for a visitor visa and paying $185. He finally had to watch the game on the screen at 3 a.m.

International fans were unable to attend due to reality, and the sales of the event tickets had to rely on the local U.S. market. Although the expatriates from Egypt, Brazil, Argentina and other countries tried their best to cheer for their parent team, most American audiences had no interest in Asian and African teams such as Urawa Red Diamonds, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sunset, and Tunisia Hope. Even European giants like Chelsea have been doing pre-season tours in the United States for four consecutive years, along with regular visitors such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern, which have long caused local fans to become aesthetically tired of commercial events.

What's more fatal is that the kick-off time in Atlanta, New Jersey, Seattle and other places is set to noon or 3 pm on weekdays - this arrangement to accommodate global broadcasts completely sacrifices the convenience of local audiences to watch the game.

High ticket prices and travel obstacles are superficial reasons, and the more fundamental reason is FIFA's strategic mistakes in event operation and positioning. Since the preparation stage, the Club World Cup has been boycotted by European football. When Infantino forced the event to be implemented and signed a broadcast agreement for Saudi capital injection, this football event, which should have focused on competition, was covered with a strong commercial color since its birth. In the face of public doubts, FIFA's response strategy is a disaster: Infantino responds only with empty clichés - "The Club World Cup will be the greatest event in football history, with 32 top clubs and superstars gathering in the United States, attracting 2 million to 3 million live audiences and 5 billion global audiences."

From beginning to end, FIFA failed to explain the core issue to fans: the Club World Cup is not a summer commercial exhibition match, but a top event aimed at reconstructing the global club football order. They neither responded to sharp criticisms about the rationality of the event nor tried to outline the Club World Cup vision with rational logic. This ostrich strategy leads to a lack of persuasion in publicity, and its already weak credibility has fallen to the bottom before the game.

Ironically, many rational observers actually recognize the potential value of the Club World Cup - if time is given, when fans see the players' investment, the popularity of the game may gradually increase like European leagues. However, FIFA mistakenly regards the Club World Cup as a mature event, exposing the immatureness of the "newcomer event" in basic links such as ticket prices, publicity, and venues. When empty stands become the norm for the competition, even if players try their best, it is difficult to rewrite the stereotype that "business shows are greater than competitive significance."