When the FIFA Club World Cup kicked off in the U.S., the football world was promised a spectacle. Lionel Messi led Inter Miami onto the field. Legends like Ronaldo, Beckham, and Kaka looked on. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called it “the start of something historic.” But three days in, the tournament is struggling under the weight of empty seats, mismatched teams, awkward scheduling, and growing concerns from fans and players alike.
Messi Can’t Mask the Problems
The opening match between Inter Miami and Egypt’s Al Ahly saw a decent crowd in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Messi’s presence ensured that. But the match ended in a drab 0-0 draw, setting a tone that hasn’t picked up since.
While the tournament began with flair and celebrity, it’s quickly revealed cracks in FIFA’s vision. Infantino’s insistence on a summer schedule, expanded format, and U.S. venues is starting to backfire.
Players Under Pressure
Mid-June kickoffs, some as early as noon under intense heat, are proving brutal. Many players have just wrapped up long seasons in Europe, while others had to pause their domestic campaigns. It’s a recipe for exhaustion.
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, blasted the tournament for ignoring workload concerns. “This schedule shows a lack of regard for player welfare,” they warned. Heat breaks are being taken mid-game, but the physical toll is evident.
Lopsided Matches
The on-field action hasn’t helped either. Auckland City, a semi-pro team from New Zealand, suffered a 10-0 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich. For fans hoping for competitive drama, the result felt more like a training session than a real contest.
Bayern’s coach Vincent Kompany even admitted the next match, against Boca Juniors, would be the real challenge. For Auckland, facing Benfica and Boca in the same group looks less like an opportunity and more like a punishment.
Empty Seats and Strange Atmospheres
Perhaps the biggest embarrassment came during the Chelsea vs. LAFC clash in Atlanta. The match was held in the massive Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but fewer than 23,000 fans showed up—leaving two-thirds of the stadium empty.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca called the atmosphere “strange.” Fans online were less kind, calling it a “shambles” and an “embarrassing look” for football. Harsh words, but not unfounded.
Strict security protocols—including passport checks and heavy police presence—may be keeping fans away. Combined with weekday afternoon kickoffs and long travel distances for club supporters, attendance woes were inevitable.
Fan Frustration and World Cup Worries
The backlash has already begun. Football fans are calling out FIFA for chasing profit and PR instead of the game’s soul. The Club World Cup was supposed to preview the success of the 2026 World Cup, but it’s become a cautionary tale.
Some fans now fear the same mistakes could carry over to the World Cup, especially with matches across three nations and logistical challenges piling up.
What’s Next?
With big fixtures still ahead—like Chelsea vs. Flamengo in Philadelphia—organisers hope things will improve. Brazilian fans are known to travel in numbers, and FIFA will count on them to bring life to the stadiums.
But the issues run deeper than a single matchday. From player welfare to match balance to fan experience, the 2025 Club World Cup is struggling to live up to its billing.
And unless FIFA can turn the tide fast, this historic event might go down as a historic failure.
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