'World-class stage' - FIFA says 1.5 million Club World Cup tickets have been sold to fans from 130 countries, even as attendance at some matches has underwhelmed

More than 1.5 million tickets have been sold to fans from more than 130 countries for the 2025 Club World Cup that kicked off last weekend with a newly expanded format, FIFA said on Tuesday.

More than 340,000 fans attended the first eight matches across the United States, which according to FIFA, is a tournament record. The highest-attended match was PSG vs. Atletico Madrid, with 80,619 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Inter Miami's tournament debut against Al Ahly drew 60,927 to Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

Still, it wasn't all positive for FIFA.

Chelsea, a two-time Champions League winner, only drew an estimated 22,000 in their match against LAFC to Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium, which has a capacity of 71,000. There was some speculation that attendance was depressed because tickets were originally purchased by fans of Club Leon, the Liga MX side that was expelled from the CWC because of multi-club ownership violations, and replaced three weeks ago by LAFC.

There was a similar showing for Dortmund's 0-0 draw against Fluminense, with roughly half of MetLife stadium filled in New Jersey. Attendance was especially sparse in Orlando. While neither team is a global soccer heavyweight, the Mamelodi Sundowns' 1-0 win over Ulsan was played in front of just 3,412 fans at the 25,000 Inter&Co Stadium.

According to FIFA, the following group stage matches are expected to have more than 50,000 fans in attendance: Real Madrid's games against CF Pachuca, Al Hilal, and FC Salzburg; FC Bayern Munich's clash against Boca Juniors in Miami; and Flamengo against Chelsea FC in Philadelphia.

The 63-match competition will conclude with July 13 final at MetLife Stadium.

"This is exactly what the FIFA Club World Cup was created for: a world-class stage where new stories are told, new heroes emerge, and club football fans feel part of something bigger," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "FIFA is proud of the unique and multicultural atmosphere and support this new competition has already generated - and thanks every fan who has brought their voice, passion, and presence as the FIFA Club World Cup continues to grow into the undisputed pinnacle of global club football."

The tournament features teams from 20 countries and players from 81, which FIFA says is its most inclusive competition in the organization's history.