More than 1 million empty seats for Club World Cup group stage. Knockout rounds up next.
Total announced attendance was 1.67 million from 2.95 million capacity, an average of 34,746.
Just 44.9 percent was filled for five matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the site of next year's World Cup final, and 50 percent at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., where the 1994 championship game was played.
Among other 2026 sites, 81.8 percent of capacity was filled in Miami Gardens, Fla., 61.6 percent in Philadelphia, 52 percent in Seattle, and 44.3 percent in Atlanta.
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FIFA spokesman Bryan Swanson did not respond to a request for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the tournament and attendance. FIFA issued a statement that said: 'The appetite of the tournament speaks for itself: fans from 168 countries have already purchased tickets . . . a clear sign of global anticipation and reach.'
The 12 games televised with English commentary on TNT, TBS, and truTV averaged 360,000 viewers through Monday, including 409,000 for seven matches on nights and weekends.
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The second round opens Saturday with an all-Brazilian matchup of Palmeiras and Botafogo, followed by Chelsea-Benfica later in the day.
Sunday starts with the high-profile meeting of Inter Miami and Lionel Messi against European champion Paris Saint-Germain and is followed by Bayern Munich-Flamengo.
Inter Milan-Fluminese and Manchester City-Al Hilal are on Monday, and Real Madrid-Juventus and Borussia Dortmund-Monterrey on Tuesday.
European teams won 16 of the 17 previous editions of an eight-team Club World Cup, the lone exception a 2012 victory by Brazil's Corinthians over Chelsea.
Manchester City is the only team that went 3-0 in the group stage.
⋅ Five of the 12 stadiums being used are sites for next year's World Cup, which will have 104 matches instead of 64 and many more games lacking prestigious teams and players.
There were five weather delays in the Club World Cup group stage and temperatures at times rose well over 90 degrees, a sign that climate change could impact next year's World Cup. However, four of the stadiums for next year's tournament have roofs and climate control.
⋅ Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, among soccer's top stars, didn't play a minute of the group stage,
'I don't want to be optimistic and get ahead of myself, but we need him because he's a top player, one of the best in the world. We hope he's back soon,' Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Thursday.
⋅ Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who turned 38 on Tuesday, has helped Miami reach the knockout phase with moments of brilliance. He hit the goal frame twice in the opening draw against Al Ahly, then scored his 68th free kick goal for club and country in the 2-1 win over Porto.
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Next up is the game against PSG, Messi's team from 2021-23.
⋅ All four entrants from Brazil have advanced to the round of 16, with Botafogo beating PSG, 1-0, in a matchup of current European and South American champions. Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Fluminense are also through to the next stage.
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