Low Attendance at Club World Cup and Gold Cup Matches Raises Concerns and Questions About Pricing Model

The highly anticipated Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup, which kicked off in the United States last weekend, got off to a disappointing start with low attendance at many of the matches. The events, which are part of a 13-month period leading up to the 2026 World Cup final, were expected to showcase the country’s soccer prowess and attract large crowds. However, the reality was far from it.

Despite ticket prices being reduced from $349 to just $4 for some matches, attendance was still a concern. The opening match between Inter Miami and Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami drew a respectable 60,927 fans, but this was still short of the venue’s capacity of 64,767. The match itself was a 0-0 stalemate, which may have contributed to the lackluster atmosphere.

The situation was even more dire at other venues. The United States men’s national team dominated Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in their Gold Cup opener at PayPal Park in San Jose, but only 12,610 fans were in attendance. Mexico’s match against Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood was also underwhelming, with just 54,309 of the 70,240 seats occupied.

The low attendance was not limited to these two matches. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which hosted European champions Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid, was not full despite being one of the more appealing matches of the slate. Similarly, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford was only half full for Palmeiras’ 0-0 draw with Porto.

The only match that came close to selling out was Bayern Munich’s 10-0 demolition of Auckland City at a Major League Soccer venue in Cincinnati, but even this was not a sellout. Fans did, however, find ways to express themselves, with a banner marking the 10th anniversary of the Baur au Lac raid, which swept up a generation of corrupt Fifa officials.

The low attendance has raised concerns about the pricing model used by Fifa and Concacaf, which has been criticized for being too high. The initial ticket prices for the Club World Cup were reportedly as high as $349, which may have deterred some fans from attending. Even after the prices were reduced, many fans still stayed away.

The situation has sparked a debate about the pricing model used by Fifa and Concacaf, with some arguing that it is too expensive for the average fan. Others have suggested that the model is flawed and needs to be revised to make the events more accessible to a wider audience.

Despite the disappointing start, there were some positive moments to take away from the matches. The USMNT’s big win over Trinidad and Tobago was satisfying for US fans, and the Dominican Republic’s challenge of mighty Mexico was an entertaining match. Al Ahly’s scintillating 45 minutes against Inter Miami, marked by remarkable saves from the Miami goalkeeper, was also a highlight.

As the Club World Cup and Gold Cup continue, it remains to be seen whether attendance will improve. The next edition of the newsletter will recap the group stage of the Club World Cup, and Jonathan Wilson will return on July 14.